Can You Hear Me Running? is a heartwarming and funny theatre show about a woman's search to find her voice. When Louise loses her voice it's devastating because she's a singer and performer and her voice is entwined with her identity. She begins a journey, meeting doctors and voice specialists along the way, looking for answers. She also starts running; she wants to run a marathon and she's determined to keep going and never give up until she reaches the finishing line.
We are so thrilled to have been supported by the Arts Council again to secure a run at the Pleasance theatre but we still need to raise more to realise our goal of a full production and we would like your support.
We want to work with a theatre designer who will design a set for us and create an exciting space for our story to be told, drawing the whole project together.
We would also like to further explore and develop the physicality of running within the piece and specifically work with choreographer Steve Kirkham. His theatre experience includes, for the National: Here Lies Love (assistant choreographer), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in the West End (associate choreographer), 13 (movement director), Earthquakes in London (assistant choreographer), His Dark Materials (assistant choreographer).
The show is based on the true story of Louise Breckon-Richards and written for the stage by Jo Harper. In 2013 Louise shared her story with Jo, Louise had already written a running blog about her experiences and after that meeting Jo began developing a dramatic script and the collaboration between these two women began...
A few months later we were invited to showcase the idea at a scratch night (Tamasha@Rich Mix) and then encouraged to apply for funding to develop it further. After securing an Arts Council grant for research and development we linked up with director Steve Grihault and appointed a creative team, musical director Dan Glover and projection/ video designer Eva Auster. We had an exciting R@D process last summer followed by two showings at Park and Pleasance theatre. We were bowled over by the feedback and tremendous support for the project. Now we want to finish developing the show and premiere Can You Hear Me Running? at the Pleasance theatre, London October 2016.
Some of our audience feedback from the R&D showings of Can You Hear Me Running? last year at the Park and Pleasance theatre, London:
"The voice is central to our persona. I hadn’t thought about silence and what would be left if the voice was taken away in terms of identity and sense of self. "
“It was beautifully crafted, performed. I was inspired and touched and informed and uplifted.”
“Cathartic and empowering.”
"Incredibly moving, gripping, passionate performance.”
You can find more details about us on our web-site here:
https://canyouhearmerunning.wordpress.com
Please follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hearmerun15/
Twitter @canyouhearmerun
Huge thanks from Jo, Louise, Steve and the team.