Collector of Tears, a play about love, loss and passion, is to tour nationally during October and November.
This poetic and epic love story spanning over four hundred years is told by Tanya Sealt, a young woman who cannot age until she has cried. Instead, Sunderland-born Tanya collects tears from the people she encounters during moments of radical English history, passionately learning to fight for human rights and to understand both her sensuality and bisexuality.
Wherever she goes she carries with her an amazing collection of glass tear-bottles, through which she reveals each unique and moving story of the tears' owners. Ultimately this hauntingly lyrical play is about humanity, intriguingly exploring the universality of love.
This new play, written by Sean Burns and produced by north east company Gobscure, opens on Wednesday 15 October at The Customs House in South Shields before heading out across the country. It is directed by South Shields-based director Jackie Fielding. Madeleine MacMahon makes her north east debut as Tanya Sealt.
It is accompanied by original live music composed and performed by Ken Patterson. Designer Alison Ashton has teamed up with Effie Burns who has created the collection of glass tear-bottles for Tanya's story and lighting is designed by James Henshaw.
After opening at the Customs House on 15 and 16 October, Collector of Tears tours to:
- 17 October - The Caedmon Hall, Gateshead
- 23 October - Key Theatre, Peterborough
- 27 October - The Place, Bedford
- 30 October - Arts Centre Washington
- 1 November - Ilkley Playhouse Studio
- 5 Nivember - Marlborough Theatre, Brighton
- 6 November - Bristol Bierkeller
- 7 November - Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton