She Wins All The Races | Mad Alice Theatre

SHE WINS ALL THE RACES
TRAGICOMEDY WITH BISCUITS

Based on the actress’s real life story of growing up with her two brothers who were born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Set in the 1970’s this brand new show is about an intelligent, happy little girl Belinda, who loves life, her two brothers and stealing The Priest’s biscuits with her best friend Angela. But her brothers are not walking properly and when she opens ‘the drawer she must never open’ her world is cataclysmically blown apart…..

‘She Wins All TheRaces’ is a dynamic, fun, heartening one-woman show about a little girl growing up with the certainty of loss. It is a celebration of the courage and resilience of the human spirit, with quirky, physical storytelling and a little bit of Abba!

Performed by Shelley O'Brien
Lead Devisor Pete Baynes
Devised by the ensemble and Script by David Napthine
Directed by Nina Hajiyianni
Designed by Donald Marshall
Original Music by Patrick Dineen
Mentors: Paul Harman, Geof Keys
Science Advisors: Dr Steven Lavall & Dr Mojgan Reza,

Centre For Life, Newcastle

For ages 13+ and adults / Running time approx 1 hr 15 mins

Mad Alice Theatre Company in association with Queen’s Hall Arts & Action Transport Theatre

The show opened at QUEEN'S HALL ARTS CENTRE, HEXHAM, NORTHUMBERLAND NE46 3LS

5th & 6th May 2016 and toured throughout 2016 to the following venues:

WHITBY HALL, ACTION TRANSPORT THEATRE, ELLESMERE PORT, CHESHIRE. CH65 9AE
WITHAM HALL, 3 HORSEMARKET, BARNARD CASTLE, CO.DURHAM DL12 8LY
GREENFIELD ARTS CENTRE, NEWTON AYCLIFFE, CO.DURHAM
ST. JOHN'S R C SECONDARY SCHOOL, BISHOP AUCKLAND, CO.DURHAM
THE LODGE, BLACKHILL & CONSETT HERITAGE PARK, CO.DURHAM
WOLSINGHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL, CO.DURHAM
KING EDWARD VTH SECONDARY SCHOOL, MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND
WOODHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL, NEWTON AYCLIFFE, CO.DURHAM
ST BEDE'S R C SECONDARY SCHOOL, LANCHESTER, CO.DURHAM
THORNLEIGH SLAESIAN COLLEGE, BOLTON, CHESHIRE
GALA THEATRE, DURHAM
HARTLEPOOL TOWN HALL THEATRE
PHOENIX STUDIO THEATRE BLYTH
NETHERBOW THEATRE, SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE, EDINBURGH
ELECTRIC PICTURE HOUSE, CHESHIRE (CHESHIRE RURAL ARTS)
WHITBY HALL, ELLESMERE PORT (CHESHIRE RURAL ARTS)
WETHERAL VILLAGE COMMUNITY HALL (HIGHLIGHTS RURAL TOURING)
AMBLE PARISH HALL (HIGHLIGHTS RURAL TOUIRNG)
WASHINGTON ARTS CENTRE
WOODHOUSE CLOSE COMMUNITY CHURCH
KING JAMES ACADEMY BISHOP AUCKLAND
BLACKHILL COMRADES CLUB COMMUNITY VENUE
WOODHOUSE CLOSE CHURCH COMMUNITY CENTRE
LINDEN HALL (NORTH TYNESIDE NHS TRUST CONFERENCE)
CONSETT ACADEMY
DERWENTSIDE COLLEGE
DARLINGTON SECONDARY SCHOOLS/ACADEMIES/COLLEGS (POLAM HALL, HURWORTH, QUEEN ELIZABETH, CARMEL, WYVERN, LONGFIELD, EDUCATION VILLAGE)
DARLINGTON COLLEGE
BINCHESTER VILLAGE HALL
EAST DURHAM CREATES CAFE
East Durham Creates cafe

This production is supported using public funding by Arts Council England, Muscular Dystrophy UK through their Joseph Patrick Trust, PTC Therapeutics, Isos Housing, Unity Theatre Trust, Hadrian Trust, Split Infinitive Trust, Coalition Duchenne and John Owen’s Adventures.

Commissioned by Queen's Hall Arts, Hexham.

Supported by Leisureworks, Durham County Council Arts Development Team and The Centre For Life

Newcastle Upon Tyne.

HEXHAM COURANT

"Clearly an accomplished actress with lashings of charisma to boot with a powerful tale to tell. A play with a heart that beats strongly and within it one of the saddest, most touching scenes I have ever seen on stage."

PETER LATHAN
(BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE)

Surprisingly, given the subject matter, it’s a gentle piece. Suffused with sadness, of course, but we also feel the happiness of the family’s life together and the consolations of religion.