Target reached!
Extra money will mean that we can have additional rehearsals, which will allow exper...
For Better, For Worse
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Aim
Our project aim is to bring a vibrant production of Jill Franklin's play, For Better, For Worse, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023.
This is us, PenPal Productions, an Edinburgh based theatre company, so named because we - Jill Franklin, Jane Sunderland and Melloney Flinn - met and became friends on the MSc Playwriting at Edinburgh University. We formed PenPals to focus on women, neurodiversity and positive ageing. These characteristics are all relevant to us personally and as a group. All three are also still underrepresented in theatre and our work aims to address this.
This Fringe we are working with a talented team of local actors and director, to premiere a brand-new comedy drama from Edinburgh based, prize-winning playwright, Jill Franklin. Set against the turbulence of the 2014 Independence Referendum in Scotland, For Better, For Worse explores how opinions are formed and family differences negotiated, as well as changing attitudes towards domestic violence. As talk of a second referendum sparks new debate amongst the Scottish population, the play addresses the impact political division can have on families and seeks to open a dialogue on how families can negotiate conflict.
Although set in Scotland, in the wake of Brexit and political events around the world, the themes are universal. We believe all audiences will enjoy the humour and exploring the relationships within the play. With an older woman as protagonist, we also want to represent a demographic and point of view often overlooked in theatre.
We are returning to the Fringe after a successful run with Jane Sunderland's play 'The Lament of Dorothy Wordsworth', which was supported by our 2019 crowdfunder. Many thanks to those of you who contributed then. You will be pleased to know we went on to tour the play, post-covid, to great reviews. Our playwright’s play, 'Hindsight', won an award for best drama, also in 2019.
We are an emerging company, looking to continue our development as theatre makers but despite our enthusiasm, we cannot do this without your support.
The good news is we have a slot with C venues to perform at the Aquila Temple from 13th to 27th of August, which is great news. The not so good news is that, unfortunately, there is very little funding for the arts, and competition is fierce for a dwindling pot of gold, as we have discovered.
With a brilliant cast, including Sheila Duncan and Mark O’Neill, and our talented director, Emma Lynne Harley, we are excited to present the play to the Fringe. However, with a cast of three, our costs are higher than most Fringe productions, therefore we need to fundraise towards the costs of a full rehearsal schedule, venue hire, professional remuneration and marketing. We also see this as providing a future for the play as we plan to take the production beyond the Fringe, to venues around Scotland in the future and hold post show discussion where audience members can share related experiences in a safe environment.
Without your help we will struggle to bring a fully formed production to the Fringe. However, we believe in this play and are keen to showcase Edinburgh talent to an international audience. Audience members from our rehearsed reading in February shared our enthusiasm.
“Cracking stuff”
“Sibling relationship was really believable”
“A brilliant piece … Great job by the actors”
“Feelingly performed by all cast”
“The dialogue really captured a family dynamic”
“Gorgeous directing”
“Monologue was fab!”
“Witty and serious”
“Humour was great”
“Fabulous”
If you believe in supporting emerging artists and a thriving arts scene then every donation, large or small, counts.
Thanks for being part of the show. Tickets on sale now.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/for-better-for-worse
Jane, Mell and Jill
This project successfully funded on 18th May 2023