"RoughHouse Theatre handled the bleakness of the story with great skill, maintaining an emotional intensity that seared your soul without ever spilling over into hysteria."
“Intimate, extremely moving and wonderful performances.”
Listed as Reader’s ‘Favourite Theatre of 2020’
“Harrowing stories eloquently told –
all the more shocking because we know them to be true.”
Ken Loach, Filmmaker
“A powerful and very special event.”
Wera Hobhouse, MP
In just two years from 2017 to 2019, more than 800 people died living and sleeping rough on the streets of the UK - a significant number of them have never been identified or named.
Unknown is a new play by award winning writer Dougie Blaxland. Originally written as an audio drama and now adapted for the stage, Unknown dramatises the story of one young person's journey from an abusive childhood to a life of homelessness on the streets of Bath - one of the most affluent cities in the UK.
The audio drama was launched in Bath on October 9th 2020 at Green Park, Bath to an invited audience including award winning film director Ken Loach and Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, before being broadcast across the UK by radio and theatre outlets including The Belgrade Theatre Coventry, The Greenwich Theatre London, Salford Arts, Theatre Royal Bath and South Street Studio Reading.
Commissioned by The Big Issue, which offers homeless and vulnerably housed people across the UK a means by which to earn a legitimate income, with the support of Arts Council England and The Big Lottery, Unknown has been written by Dougie Blaxland with the assistance of Chris Taylor of The Big Issue in Bath and six people based in the area who have recent experience of homelessness: Sammy Clark, Nathan Dempster, Ian Duff, Paul Jones, Lloyd Rusdale and Anthony Williams.
Ian Duff, one of the Big Issue vendors who collaborated with Dougie Blaxland in developing the script said that, "working on the project has been a deeply moving experience."
Big Issue vendors have returned to selling the magazine across the country. However, with footfall significantly lower on many high streets, Big Issue vendors need your support now, more than ever. Please support them by buying a copy of the magazine. If you don’t have a local vendor, you can support The Big Issue by downloading the app, available on Apple Store and Google Play, or subscribe online.
Unknown is directed and produced by Moira Hunt and Shane Morgan of RoughHouse Theatre.
The 2020 audio drama featured Dan Gaisford, Sabrina Laurison and Alex Stedman with an original score composed by Owen Morgan.
We are delighted to announce that in September 2021, the stage adaptation will feature Scott Bayliss, Dan Gaisford and Sabrina Laurison.
Tuesday 28th September 2021 Greenwich Theatre London
Wednesday 29th September 2021 Greenwich Theatre London
Thursday 30th September 2021 Greenwich Theatre London
Friday 1st October 2021 Tobacco Factory Theatres Bristol
Saturday 2nd October 2021 Tobacco Factory Theatres Bristol
Sunday 3rd October Rondo Theatre Bath (Charity Gala Performance)
Unknown an audio performance by Dougie Blaxland (2020)
LISTEN HERE!
...but before you do, please consider making a donation to The Big Issue.
Unknown was originally conceived as a live performance. Due to the restrictions of the pandemic, it was changed to an audio performance to ensure this essential story was still told.
In donating, we ask that that ticket price you would have paid is a guide to your donation.
Huge thanks from the Unknown RoughHouse Theatre creative team.
All images by Lisa Hounsome
Unknown was made with support and assistance from the following people:
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