...and hilarious play!

The Lace Market Theatre will launch its 2017 season with Tissue, a daring and sensitive play from Louise Page about dealing with cancer. Director Clare Choubey explains why

A young woman discovers she has breast cancer. In an emotional journey she encounters many people who anger, frustrate and comfort her. Explaining the strain and devastation this disease has on the victims and their families, this is a sensitive and daring play from a former resident writer at the Royal Court.

This play was written in 1978. Treatment of breast cancer will have changed between then and now so how is it relevant to today?

While the story is of the main character's experience with cancer, it's not solely about that. It's about family, love, friendship, and the realisation of what the important things in life are. All of us face adversity at some time in our lives, many of us will experience a life-threatening illness, or be close to someone else that does. Even if we haven't had the same experience as Tissue's protagonist, Sally is a character we can all sympathise and identify with.

What have been the challenges you and the cast have faced in mounting this production?

Probably the most demanding aspect of the play is how the plot shifts backwards and forwards in time, coupled with that two of the actors have to play multiple characters, and all three have to play the same people as both children and adults. The scene changes are too rapid to employ costumes or props to suggest the different characters which means that the actors have to use their own physicality, voice, and demeanour to delineate each person.

What have you most enjoyed about the process?

It's been a real pleasure to work with such a talented and hard-working cast, every time we rehearse they add more detail and richness to their performances and interactions. I've enjoyed the creative collaboration and how we work as a team, we've worked hard, but we've also had fun! Finally it's been wonderful to work on such a well-written play, even the smallest characters are completely believable, every scene is beautifully written, and the play has the right amount of humour and pathos.

What made this a play you wanted to direct?

As a woman, I was drawn to the subject matter, and the strong female characters, but what really inspired me was the fact that it is such a well-crafted play; it doesn't use gimmicks or effects, it's all about bringing the characters to life through the acting. Although it might seem to have a complex structure, the shifting time periods, and nonlinear narrative structure actually enhance the impact of the production.

What can you say to encourage people to come and see this play on such a sensitive subject?

While Tissue is very moving and sad in places, many scenes are extremely funny. The audience will probably recognise people they know in some of the characters from the self-important receptionist to the brusque GP. Despite the subject matter, the play is both life-affirming and uplifting. The cast do a superb job in depicting all the characters. I think the audience will be in for a treat!

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