The Shape Of The Pain
‘I don’t have to remember being in pain. I’m not sure that’s something we can do. And in my case, it’s irrelevant. You can’t remember something that’s still happening.’
One woman attempts to articulate her experience of physical pain. Pain with no apparent cause. Also, she’s met someone, and they want to make this work.
Words and an original sound score combine to create an explosive dialogue about love and perception. It’s an experiment in how we talk about pain – and if we ever do that in a way someone else can understand.
The Shape of The Pain is a Scotsman Fringe First award-winning show exploring life in extremity and the joy that can be found there.
All performances are captioned, audio described & wheelchair accessible.
Commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre and New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. Supported by artsdepot.
Funded by The Wellcome Trust and supported using public funds from The National Lottery through Arts Council England.
This is an exercise in empathy – and it is exhilarating theatre
The Guardian
The masterful combination of sound design, lighting and projections coinciding with McPake’s performance offers an overwhelming glimpse into a life unwillingly shared with pain
Edinburgh Festival Magazine
Theatre’s been called an empathy machine. The Shape of The Pain tests its very limits... Searing stuff
Fest
This one-woman show is a smart, funny and far from disconsolate inquiry into the knowability of someone else’s experience. The sound design and visuals have a pulsing power
Sunday Times
The Shape of the Pain… is tastefully directed by Rachel Bagshaw, making good use of multimedia. The result makes for a compelling evening
British Theatre Guide
The show’s power is down to an incredible performance by Hannah McPake… whose delivery ranges from calm and droll to intensely expressive and moving
British Theatre
