PREVIEW: Benefit
Benefit is an interactive play where audience members participate, debate, and even have the opportunity to change the outcome in this ‘Forum Theatre’ production.
Produced by Cardboard Citizens who are considered to be one of the world’s leading practitioners of forum theatre and are very different from most touring companies. For over twenty years, Cardboard Citizens have been making productions with homeless and marginalised people, and most of the company’s actors have had some experience of homelessness, whether temporary or long-term.
Speaking about the pressures of touring professionally, Artistic Director Adrian Jackson said “very few have sufficient acting ability from the start to do the job that is required at the professional level we demand. For many it is a long journey, during which we get them involved in community projects and slowly raise the bar until we feel they are ready to do a big, professional tour, like Benefit.
The demands are intense. The last thing I want is to put pressure on people who can’t take it. We need to be sure they are in a good place because acting is a surprisingly hard game. You have to be realistic about where people are in their lives.”
Benefit follows three intertwining stories bringing to the forefront true stories of those who have been affected by the failing welfare system. ‘Sanctioned’ the story of Rosa and her troubles of claiming Job Seekers Allowance, ‘Zero’ follows Craig and his wife who are on zero hour contracts, and finally we hear Patrick’s story as his incapacity benefit is being constantly scrutinised. In the second act, the audience are encouraged to participate and share their own views, through debate and discussion.
Benefit by Sarah Woods, produced by Cardboard Citizens is at the Waterside Theatre on the 4th & 5th of June at 7.30pm, with tickets priced at £10 and £7 for concession.
