“The scripting is as sharp as the performances. Francesca Joy has an obvious talent for creating poignancy from the ordinary… the physicality of the performances and the nuance in the writing make it all feel heartbreakingly new…’You Forgot the Mince’ is a brilliant piece of theatre that is a true representation of the grit of real-life.” West End Wilma

Synopsis

Rosa lives with her grandma Lily. She’s just finished College and she can’t wait to leave Yorkshire and all the people in it … until she meets Niko. They fall head over heels in love, and the future’s looking bright. But their love for each other is tested to the limit; Rosa leaves for London, Niko ends up in prison and Lily won’t stop baking cakes.

Everyone’s world is falling apart, but no-one’s talking about it. How are they going to get their lives back on course?

Inspired by real life events and set in Leeds, this gritty piece of new writing tells the story of a modern day abusive relationship. The interactions between the characters poignantly highlight the stark reality of control and coercion, interlaced with humour and normality.

“You Forgot the Mince is a story about what we do to protect those around us and how we fuck them up in the process. It is about real people and the journeys they choose to go on in life. How we love and how we hurt.”

“The characters came to me long before the story did. I was inspired by my own relationships with those close to me, those around me, and the people I passed on the street. I am inspired by people and the ability they have to change their own behaviour. I hope You Forgot the Mince inspires others to change too.” – Chesca Joy, Writer

We successfully toured You Forgot the Mince to:

The Pleasance (Edinburgh), The Courtyard (London), Hope Mill Theatre (Manchester), MAC (Birmingham), The Castle Theatre (Wellingborough), Shoebox Theatre (Swindon) and Interplay Theatre (Leeds). We also toured the play to the following prisons: HMP Peterborough, HMP Durham, HMP Lindholme, HMP Moorland, HMP Downview, HMP Onley and HMP Holme House.

You Forgot the Mince received critical acclaim across the UK with 5 stars from North West End and 4 stars from The Stage amongst many others. The play also inspired active change in offenders lives which was supported by intense drama based workshops with imagine if.

“I must implore anyone to watch this engaging and captivating production” – The Ocelot

Click here for the You Forgot the Mince prison tour pack

Click here for the You Forgot the Mince theatre tour pack

Click here to read Chesca’s blog about You Forgot The Mince

You Forgot the Mince Tour 2016

 

You Forgot the Mince toured in 2016 to Carriageworks (sold out shows), Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, CAST, Square Chapel Halifax, Theatre in the Mill, Barnsley Civic, and three prisons, with pre-performance drama workshops in educational establishments, community centres and probation services, and post-performance workshops in prisons. The production received overwhelmingly positive responses from the social sector, audiences and venues we toured to, demonstrating its strong impact.

“imagine if are a company truly dedicated to their work and their first show, You Forgot the Mince, captured the imagination of its audience through its fast-paced storyline, stylised aesthetic and honest performances. We hosted a post-show Q&A, during which many audience members acknowledged how moved they were and actively engaged in positive conversation about the themes and impact of the work, which had clearly left them thinking, far beyond the end of the show” – Alison Ford, Square Chapel

“You Forgot the Mince is a powerful portrait of an intense, passionate and ultimately abusive relationship that spirals out of control“ – Telegraph & Argus, 2016

You Forgot the Mince had a pilot tour in 2016 to the following theatres and prisons:

• The Civic, Barnsley
• Carriageworks, Leeds
• Hope Mill, Manchester
• CAST, Doncaster
• Square Chapel, Halifax
• Theatre in the Mill, Bradford
• HMP Leeds
• HMP New Hall
• HMP Wealstun

 

 

Research & Development – 2014 – 2016

 

You Forgot the Mince began in 2014 in a research and development stage where Artistic Director, Francesca Joy, began her research into developing the characters and storylines. This research encapsulated interviewing offenders in prisons who had suffered and perpetrated abuse, counsellors and psychologists in the domestic abuse field and her own friends and family. This first theatre R&D took place at The New Bradford Playhouse involving the following incredible artists: John Mulleady as Director, Zodwa Nyoni as Dramaturg and actors: Fiz Marcus and Matt and was showcased to an audience of victims and abusers.

The second theatre R&D took place in 2015 at Slung Lows HUB involving the wonderful Michael White of Square Peg Theatre Company as director and actors: Kate Radford, Chris White and Charlotte Fox. The onus then was back to Francesca to amalgamate all her findings into a full length script and with the support of dramaturg, Mark Catley (BBC), Chesca accomplished this as well as raising the funds to tour the play to theatres and prisons across the UK.

 

 

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