Madison Violet

(the possibility of future splendour)

By Caroline Horton

Directed by Alex Swift and produced by China Plate

Every now and then a piece of theatre crosses our path which is as deeply affecting emotionally as it is magnificent theatrically. Such a piece is ALL OF ME by Caroline Horton.

Derived from her own experiences – almost autobiographical – and full of dark themes of clinical depression – it is also uplifting, and indeed comical in parts.

Caroline Horton is a theatre maker and performer who we have followed since her first show (Olivier Award nominated) ‘You’re Not Like Other Girls Chrissy’ which came to the Tolmen Centre several years ago. She is a truly mesmerising performer, often using her own life experiences as a building block for her theatre.

All Of Me is a dark and difficult play about the depths of depression. Caroline takes us into her own mythical psyche – apologising repeatedly as she does so! – as we are exposed to the inner turmoil of a tortured soul, grappling with suicidal thoughts. While this may sound bleak, Caroline has made a magnificently powerful theatrical experience that is actually, ultimately, optimistic.

★★★★★The Independent

“All of Me is theatrically alive at every moment, even when conveying the deadening weight of depression. And yes, actually, it is ultimately uplifting – but by being raw, honest and elemental, rather than neat or cutesy. I loved it.”

★★★★The Guardian ★★★★Time Out ★★★★The Stage  ★★★★Time Out ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★The List ★★★★★ Three Weeks ★★★★The Wee Review ★★★★Edinburgh Guide ★★★★one4review ★★★★Theatre Weekly

Mental illness has been brought to the stage in many and varied forms – it is an important and significant subject in today’s world, worthy of examination by all of us.

All of Me gives us that opportunity in a play that is both personal and universal, and which evokes the reality of depression on stage in front of us, through a performance which is powerful and engaging, a genuine theatrical tour-de-force.

All the components of fine theatre are brought together by Caroline and her Director Alex Swift: a dishevelled and mysterious stage set, beautifully arranged music and sound, brilliant writing, and a charismatic performance by a mesmerising performer.

All Of Me was tremendously well received at The Edinburgh Fringe 2019 – just look at the stars, reviews and audience feedback. We were lucky enough to see it at Warwick Arts Centre in January this year, and to then find a space in our programme to schedule it.

We had some worries about a subject matter so dark and so personal. But we decided that our Tolmen Centre audience, who have over the years relished theatre which is challenging, as long as it is of excellent quality, would be glad of the chance to see All Of Me – which is both of those things. We unreservedly recommend this play, deep and dark, but undeniably wonderful theatre.

AWARDS

• Winner of The Scotsman Mental Health Fringe Award 2019
• The Stage Edinburgh Award 2019 recipient
• Lustrum Award 2019 recipient

Commissioned by Cambridge Junction, The Yard Theatre, Harlow Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Theatre Iolo, ARC Stockton Arts Centre, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton, Camden People’s Theatre and Folkestone Quarterhouse.

Supported by UCL Culture, Battersea Arts Centre, the MA Dramatic Writing Lab at Drama Centre London at Central Saint Martins and Midlands Arts Centre.

Created in conversation with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust, University College London and STOP Suicide.

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Tickets £10

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MacQuarrie and Toms formed in 2014. Since then they have played throughout the UK and Europe. In 2018 the duo were featured artists at Festival Interceltique de Lorient, the same year that they also supported Fairport Convention as part of their 50th anniversary tour.

Most recently the duo played with Welsh Folk Group Jamie Smith’s Mabon, to perform a commission piece to mark the 40th year of the Lowender Peran Festival in Cornwall.

Since their formation the duo have released 2 EPs, both of which have featured on BBC Introducing and in 2017 they won the International Pan Celtic Instrumental Duo competition in Ireland.

MacQuarrie and Toms aim to bring Celtic Folk music to a wider audience by combining traditional playing techniques with modern effects.

Tickets £9 – Under 12s £4.50

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John Etheridge and Chris Garrick have been associated for many years. The duo provides a feast of interplay, improvisation and eclectic repertoire. Both players make extensive use of looping and other effects-creating exotic tapestries of sound, almost orchestral at times, yet can seamlessly switch to the most acoustic sound. They can evoke Reinhardt and Grappelli and then summon up the spirits of the electric avant-garde, atmospheric and hypnotic. They can roar, seduce, whisper. Jazzwise described their relationship as “one of the most potent in European Jazz”.

Tickets £12

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