The Bread You Throw is the debut show from new theatre company Drunken Butler, which premieres at Lion and Unicorn Theatre this summer. I spoke to Simon Jay, playwright, to find out a little bit more about this new work starring Miranda Shrapnell.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
The Bread You Throw is a story about a young woman, Emma, who has dementia.
We see her life in reverse, starting with the end of the illness, and as we go on, we see Emma’s identity come into focus. But it doesn’t stop there, this reversing narrative is also a loop, we get stuck in this repeating cycle – and there’s a very good reason why, which I won’t spoil!
It’s a challenging play; we didn’t want to shy away from how debilitating this condition can be, and Miranda Shrapnell portrays the stages of Emma’s illness with such power and nuance. It can be uncomfortable to watch, but also incredibly compelling.
What drew you to this specific story?
I’ve had experience of family members with dementia, and have also volunteered as a befriender to those living with the condition. I feel it’s something we fear as a society, and want to hide people away when they show symptoms.
This story forces us to confront this difficult subject and allows us to understand what the experience of dementia could be like.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
Miranda and I have had to research people’s lived experiences of dementia, and that can be very hard and emotional to process. It’s a very demanding role, and Miranda is exhausted after every run; we’ve had to be careful to make sure we don’t burn ourselves out creating the piece.
How does the design of your show impact the presentation of your story?
To give a sense of confusion and disorientation, there are strange quirks to the props, the sound and the lighting.
Whilst it’s very minimalist, the way objects multiply or the way sound and ambience are mismatched are all very intentional; nothing is by accident on stage, and they give clues to what’s really happening in Emma’s world.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
‘No Mud, No Lotus.’
Emma’s a spiritual character, and there’s a Buddhist thread that runs through the play, that philosophy informs how she deals with her illness.
The Bread You Throw runs from 30 June to 4 July at Lion & Unicorn Theatre. Tickets available here: https://www.thelionandunicorntheatre.com/whats-on
