A stage adaptation of Christie Watson’s memoir The Language of Kindness is to have its première in Coventry before a short tour.
Based on Watson's book recalling her 20 years as a nurse, The Language of Kindness is “an ensemble-style piece of dance theatre: a joy-filled celebration of nurses and front-line healthcare workers”.
Watson commented, "nurses give their soul to help sick people every day, working 14-hour days without eating or drinking because there’s no time—not even to use the toilet.
“Nurses are using foodbanks. Nurses are homeless. Nurses now have the highest occupational suicide rate. Nurses don’t have time to give the kindness, care and compassion that people so desperately need, but they find it anyhow.
“Compassion is the only thing that can save us—remind us who we are or at least who we are meant to be. We’ll all be nursed at some stage in our lives, every single one of us. We need our nurses."
The ensemble cast includes Tina Chiang, Etta Fusi, Tamzin Griffin, Keziah Joseph, Clive Mendus and Harriet Webb. Produced by Wayward Productions, The Language Of Kindness has been adapted and is directed by Sasha Milavic Davies and James Yeatman. Sound design is by Gareth Fry, with set and costume by Zoë Hurwitz. Lighting design is by Jess Bernberg with video design by Hayley Egan.
Audiences will be socially distanced at The Language Of Kindness which will play Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry from Thursday 20 until Saturday 22 May.
It then goes to the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells from Wednesday 26 until Saturday 29 May and Shoreditch Town Hall, London from Wednesday 2 until Saturday 12 June.