Written by Natasha Collie
Directed and designed by Beth Kapila
Performed at the VAULTS FESTIVAL 2020 by Jack Archer, Charlotte O’Leary and Jacoba Williams.
Lighting design by Ryan Stafford
Stage management and Sound Design by Charlotte Brown
Produced by BTS Productions
Production photos by Ali Wright
This piece of new writing is set in a coastal town on the front line of the climate emergency, which has been decommissioned and no longer recognised by the government. Mila and Doll are 14 years old and have been best friends forever. Enter Posy, 16, cool as cucumber. Posy forces Mila to confront her sexuality and what she really wants from life. Doll is forced into confronting his feelings and whether his obsession with big cats is going too far. Friendships unravel, towns crumble and romances emerge.
The script has been in development between Beth and Natasha for 18 months, with a day of R&D at the young vic and dramaturgical working through multiple drafts to get it to it’s first performance at the VAULTS 2020.
We had a week of performances confirmed at theatre 503 as a result of the VAULTS, however this has been postponed due to the coronavirus affecting the programming and operation of theatres. We are hopeful to bring the production back in the future.
When The Sea Swallows Us Whole
“Natasha Collie’s When the Sea Swallows Us Whole is a case in point, an early play from a writer who knows how to turn a vivid phrase ... Beth Kapila’s production garners excellent performances”
“Our cast of 3 give wonderful performances under the direction of Beth Kapila. A simple stage design is used to great effect, with evocative lighting elements beautifully bringing the sense of place to life. This is a compelling and enjoyable piece of theatre that deserves a future life and on-going evolution.”
“It’s touching and funny and very deftly directed by Beth Kapila. The three actors are swirled into an evocative sound and lighting scape in which it seems perfectly possible that one could be stalked by a puma. ”
