Please be aware the following contains references to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) & voice hearing.
** THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED SO FAR **
................................. we are so grateful for every penny that is being donated.
WE HAVE EXTENDED OUR DEADLINE TO JULY 2025, TO HELP US CONTINUE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT...... as the work continues ....
We are Danny and Louise and we are theatre-makers and performers who also work in the field of mental wellbeing.
Our play ALICE brings these two worlds together.
ALICE is a raw and emotional play that offers a profound exploration of healing, resilience and empowerment in reclaiming what once was lost.
Alice is a voice hearer and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse (CSA).
We believe that we need to break the stigma, break the silence of shame, and make a real shift in how society deals with those who are struggling with abuse and mental health issues.
We are bringing ALICE to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025.
This is our small, but we believe, a very important contribution to foster real change.
The Festival offers us the opportunity to contribute in the only way we can, through a live visceral performance; getting in front of the public, helping people understand the effects of abuse, sometimes decades after it occurs.
Can you help us contribute to real CHANGE in society?
On the eve of her 50th birthday, Alice sets out to confront the trauma of her 10th birthday, which instead of being a day of celebration became the painful beginning of her abuse.
We join Alice as she fights to take back what is hers.
Using optional immersive techniques, the audience is drawn into the experience of a voice–hearer. Using video and audio elements gives the audience a unique & active theatre experience.
The piece is based on 3 years of research with lived-experience experts, psychologists, therapists and social workers, to ensure authentic representation of the lived experience. Read about them here.
We gained a 5* review Broadway Baby at our 1st preview (under our work-in-progress title - The Doll Who Came to Tea)
What are we asking for?
So far we have self-funded this project.
We’re taking this play to the Ed Fringe this year to try and contribute to change in how society deals with the difficult subject of abuse.
Unfortunately it costs a lot to bring a play to the Fringe.
We're paying for ourselves so can you help us raise £3000 to ensure the play runs the best it can technically ?
Our target here today:
- £1700 towards the total venue hire of £4800 - we've personally paid the £1200 deposit
- £1000 - towards a local actor and technician
- £300 - towards marketing the show so we actually have an audience
As you can see, every pound you donate helps us enormously.
We're 2 freelancer theatremakers attempting to make good theatre with very limited financial security.
We want to raise awareness of the mental health impact of abuse. This is our way of contributing to the global shift required to better understand our fellow human beings through understanding and compassion.
OUR STORY
In its 1st R&D stage, the work was seen by nearly 200 members of the general public, medical and artistic world. Over the summer of 2021 we toured to the Brighton, Guildford and Camden Fringe.
Some audience quotes:
- “Are we as a nation providing enough help?”
- “the more people that are aware of the suffering of others the better”
- 'Unmissable - difficult watch but unmissable"
After resting the show we picked it back up in 2024 believing that NOW is the time to bring this play to the Edinburgh Fringe and present it to as big an audience as possible. The show has been renamed ALICE and is now produced by Slow Theatre Company Limited.
You can find up to date information about ALICE on linktr.ee
Some of our partners include:
The Hot Stove Project, US - Dr Lois Oppenheim (Professor and Chair, Department of World Languages and Cultures. Affiliated faculty, Medical Humanities. Plus, Faculty, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute) and Alice Maher (Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst in New York)
Intervoice - supports the International Hearing Voice Movement
CHARM mental health charity
Love Me Love My Mind mental health charity,
and many others from the CSA community
We have devised this work with compassion and empathy for and with adult survivors. Together with them, we feel strongly about bringing this conversation to the general public.
MEET THE TEAM
DANNY O’HARA, Director, Producer, Theatremaker
Danny is a passionate theatremaker particularly interested in telling untold stories. As well as nearly 2 decades working in the arts, Danny has over 15 years experience supporting homeless people, and is an arts wellbeing practitioner.
LOUISE DELALUZ, Actor, Producer, Yoga Meditation Teacher
Louise is an experienced performer in theatre and short film projects. She is also a wellbeing facilitator and passionate about empowering people to nurture their mental wellbeing through an array of mindfulness activities.
Statistics
The latest statistics from napac – (the National Association for People Abused in Childhood) states
“there are an estimated minimum of 11 million adult survivors of contact and non-contact child sexual abuse in the UK” (Radford, L. et al (2011) Child abuse and neglect in the UK today NSPCC).
napac receives hundreds of contacts per week from adult survivors of child abuse.
In this play we explore the nature of abuse which highlights isolation and secrecy, which thereafter demands the victim to suppress their natural reactive feelings and emotions, which can remain buried for years, if not decades.
Why we think we must be at the Fringe 2025:
The Edinburgh Fringe allows us to dedicate a set amount of time, in a uniquely artistic environment, to bring this show to as many people as possible.
As two freelancers who have largely self-funded this project in the last 14 months, so to be able to dedicate this time at Edinburgh is incredibly helpful.
As well as showing the play to the general public we aim to meet and connect with national and international partners with an aim to bring our show to their local audiences and educational settings.
OUR EDINBURGH SLOT
- 1st Aug- 23rd August 2025 (not Sunday 10th and 17th)
- The Ivy Studio
- Greenside @ George Street
- 2pm show everyday except middle Sundays Tickets on sale now
* THANK YOU FOR READING TO THE VERY END *
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR ANY SUPPORT - and please take a look at the rewards and see if anything takes your fancy.
Huge thanks, Danny & Louise