Birmingham graduate’s play has Chicago première

Published: 6 February 2016
Reporter: Steve Orme

Positive conversation: Danielle Pinnock’s Body/Courage

A play by a graduate of Birmingham School of Acting is to have its world première in Chicago.

Actor and playwright Danielle Pinnock from New Jersey studied for an MA in acting at the school, part of Birmingham City University, before returning to the USA.

Body/Courage aims to “encourage a positive conversation about body image with audience members, removing the shame and silence that is often associated with those who struggle with self-acceptance”.

For her university research project, Pinnock wanted to come up with a one-woman play “with dialogue that highlighted stories from real women who grew up in an ‘unpopular’ body”.

The production shares 20 stories from some 300 interviews that she conducted around the world. Her creative journey took her from pubs in Exeter to colleges in San Francisco.

The stories come from a diverse group of women including a burns survivor, an Afghanistan war veteran and a transgender surgeon. Pinnock uses their words to tackle issues such as eating disorders, addiction and sexual abuse.

The play also highlights Pinnock’s “transformative” journey to discover herself. She said, “body image has been a topic of interest of mine since I was a child. I’ve always had an awareness of my body. I recall hilarious memories of my grandmother squeezing me into church dresses and having the misfortune of wearing tights in school ballet recitals.

“Even though I was always the chubby girl in school, it has never affected my love and passion to perform. However, this is the first time that I’m sharing my body acceptance journey too, rather than just performing the stories of others. Knowing that my experience could help someone on their own journey to loving their body gave me the courage to tell my story.

“Without Birmingham School of Acting, this play would still be just an idea. The school challenged me to expand myself as an artist and for that I’ll always be grateful.”

Lise Olson from Birmingham School of Acting who taught Pinnock said, “Danielle continues to be an inspiration as she gives Body/Courage to those struggling with acceptance of body image in all walks of life. Birmingham School of Acting could not be prouder of Danielle and all she’s achieved.”

Since graduating Pinnock has picked up the Chicago Fringe Festival’s 2014 Fringe Pick award as well as the 2013 best actress award at the NYC Strawberry Theatre Festival where her performance of The Body Image Project gained best director and best play nominations.

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