ABOUT HEAD/LINING
A profound, thrilling mix of music and storytelling, head/lining is a lyrical dive inside the mind of a working-class man coming to terms with his life so far, from noxious upbringing to alcoholism and homelessness. Finding absolution in words and poetry, writer & performer Charlie Heptinstall’s spoken-word/indie-rock gig (alongside fellow performer Jordan El-Balawi on guitar) confronts an individual’s battle with identity and mental health combined with Britain’s ever-growing prejudicial obsession with class. After starting its journey at The Pleasance, OffComm award-winning head/lining (directed by Matt Strachan) has been described as ‘punchy and fast-paced’ offering audiences ‘an insight into the harsh and angry struggles that go unspoken…’
ABOUT KNUCKLEDOWN
Knuckledown is a down-to-earth theatre company focused on making new plays by working class storytellers as well as adapting old works (with class in mind). We collaborate with working class theatre makers so that we can all emerge and develop an audience together. Recent work by the company includes: an adaptation of Chekov’s Three Sisters (Hope Theatre, 2021, Winner: Best Adaptation – LPT Standing Ovation Awards) and Starved (Hope Theatre/Bread & Roses, 2019, Five stars – London Pub Theatres).
For Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022, Knuckledown is working with emerging working-class producers, Luke Mosley and Ryan Wilce, to reimagine a piece of writing by Charlie Heptinstall.
WHY IS HEAD/LINING IMPORTANT?
Heptinstall’s semi-autobiographical writing puts a spotlight on the stark and devastating reality many young men in the UK are experiencing today.
Research states: ‘men are far more likely than women to go missing, sleep rough, become dependent on alcohol, and use drugs frequently. Three times as many men as women die by suicide and men aged 40-49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK. Yet, Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men.’ (Source: Mental Health Foundation)
Why now? 65% of adults and 75% of young people said their mental health had worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: Mind)
While we have all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mental Health Foundation’s research shows a contrasting divide in people’s experience depending on their social and/or economic context in society.
WHERE WILL YOUR MONEY GO?
As a small company of working-class artists, Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a brave task and something we cannot tackle without your help. We want to tell this story; we need to tell this story. The Fringe is notoriously financially tough, your investment will help cover all sorts of expenditure to ensure we can get there, have a roof over our heads and a stage under our feet. Your support combined with all this hard work will provide a much-needed platform for this new piece of writing, enabling it to highlight the prevalent themes that would resonate with a wide-ranged and diverse international audience
