A Pain in the Arts (2025)
This project ran from 16th to 23rd March 2025. During its run, the show was watched by health professionals, people who live ith chronic pain, and the general public, garnering overwhelmingly positive feedback for its authentic voice, humour despite seriousness of subject, and shining of light on a subject that all-to-often is left in shadow.
Audience reaction: “Yesterday I had the incredible pleasure of watching ‘A Pain in the Arts’ at Theatre Space North East. I laughed, I cried, but most importantly, I felt validated. The show focuses on chronic pain, and featured actors who either live with chronic pain or someone close to them does, and had been researched and it showed. It was the first time I’d ever seen my life experience in front of my own eyes, and it was heavy, but validating I'm grateful for the cast and crew of the production for shining a light on chronic conditions. Also, it was just class…”
Synopsis
"Kati-D" is 23 and has always been the life of the party...until recently.
A born entertainer with the voice of an angel (according to her gran) she makes money running Open Mic Nights at the locals but has aspirations of bigger things. That is, until a recent diagnosis unexpectedly throws everything she has set out for herself into doubt, as a chronic condition begins to play a bigger and bigger part in her work, her interpersonal relationships, her life...
But she's "Kati-D"! Surely she can keep it all together and still have the crowds in the palm of her hand night after night...or will this finally be a performance too far?
Through drama, song, humour, highs, lows and more - inspired and influenced by a creative community workshop series exploring how chronic conditions effect the lives of those in South Tyneside and surrounding areas - A Pain in the Arts seeks to shine a light on the people behind chronic conditions, and raise awareness of the overwhelming and often unseen or unspoken effects on their lives.
📅 Tues 18th March 2025
📍 Elvet Methodist Church, 8 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HL
🕒 2:30pm
💳 £5.00
55-minute performance followed by Q+A with Flippin’ Pain & Durham Pain Team
📅 Weds 19th March 2025
📍 Oxford Centre, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 8LT
🕒 6:00pm
💳 £5.00
55-minute performance followed by short Q+A with cast
📅 Fri 21st March 2025
📍 Theatre Space North East, 14a Borough Rd, Sunniside, Sunderland SR1 1EP
🕒 6:00pm
💳 FREE
55-minute performance followed by short Q+A with cast
📅 Sat 22nd March 2025
📍 Theatre Space North East, 14a Borough Rd, Sunniside, Sunderland SR1 1EP
🕒 3:00pm & 7.00pm
💳 £5.00
55-minute performance followed by short Q+A with cast
📅 Sun 23rd March 2025
📍 Tansy Centre, Church St, South Hylton, Sunderland SR4 0QD
🕒 3:00pm
💳 £5.00
55-minute performance followed by short Q+A with cast
Credits/Cast:
Written by Jamie Brown
Created by Theatre Space North East
Developed by the chronic community of South Tyneside and local areas
Partners:
