Health service satire is coming to Downpatrick

Health service satire is coming to Downpatrick

25 February 2015

DOWNPATRICK is to get ‘Stitched Up’ as Northern Ireland’s healthcare crisis stars in a new satirical comedy.

After a successful first run at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, c21 Theatre Company is taking the hugely popular Stitched Up production on tour throughout Northern Ireland later this month, stopping at Down Arts Centre on Saturday, March 14.

Stitched Up features Aidan, a surgeon in the NHS who is reaching melting point in his career. His wife, Kate, a high profile peace-facilitator is meanwhile preoccupied with her campaign to remove the peace walls in Belfast. Their passionate relationship is tested by the differences developing between their careers. 

The production also features the complexities of the Northern Ireland landscape, not to mention the arrival of Ruari, who forces Aidan to make a life or death decision.

Stitched Up touches heavily upon the interplay between lead characters and their 

relationships. Writer Rosemary Jenkinson explained: “A power struggle is almost developing between the two lead characters as they reach such different points in their careers. 

“I wanted to fully examine and explore the stress that our surgeon, Aidan, experiences in his role and how this affects him and his relationship with his wife.”

Stephen Kelly has taken on the major directorial role with Stitched Up and is co-founder of the c21 Theatre Company. Stephen directed the award-winning production Choices in 2014 for c21 Theatre Company that looked at the subject of underage 

binge drinking. The production won an Arts and Business NI award at the 2015 awards ceremony.

He said of the success of Stitched Up: ”The sold-out opening night at the Lyric Theatre was a huge success. It would seem that we really struck a chord with people, much more than we could have imagined. 

“I think that many people have had their own personal experiences of the NHS, whether it is negative or positive experiences, and that has drawn them to the show.

“Of course it was Rosemary Jenkinson’s personal experience with the NHS that inspired the show, so to be able to portray that in this satirical comedic production has had a few people in stitches to say the least.

“What is happening in the NHS is quite serious, but I don’t want to be deceptive as this is an entertaining show. It is a satirical and smart production where we poke fun at some of the serious aspects of the NHS, but it also highlights relationships and the complexity of the Northern Irish landscape. This will provide you with a hearty laugh. It is an enthralling show.”

To purchase tickets contact Down Arts Centre on 028 4461 0747.