Chronic Pain, Comedy and Cake!

Did you know that on an average wedding breakfast table of ten people, 3 to 5 of those will be living with persistent or chronic pain?  For some, it may be annoying; for others, life-changing.  But one thing is for certain – things are never dull when you come face-to-face with The Uninvited Guest! 

Following the success of 2024’s production ‘A Pain in the Arts,’ which explored lived experiences of persistent pain, Theatre Space North East have teamed up with Teesside University and Flippin’ Pain create a brand-new show touring the region in October: The Uninvited Guest. 

North-east locals are invited to join for a fun, fast-paced and ultimately uplifting performance that has been inspired by the lives of real people.  

“Teesside University are delighted to be teaming up with Flippin’ Pain and Theatre Space to shed light on persistent pain in this innovative and exciting show, all set against the backdrop of a family wedding,” remarks Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation at Teesside University and Community Pain Champion for Flippin’ Pain, Cormac Ryan. 

“Persistent pain, theatre and comedy may not seem natural bedfellows, but Theatre Space have become adept at balancing the light-hearted and uplifting without pulling punches and losing impact.”

“In recent times, we have used theatre as a vehicle to explore timely issues from food poverty, to flooding, to fibromyalgia,” says director Corinne Kilvington, “We’ve found that common experience is a great source of both humour and understanding, and Jamie (Brown, the playwright of The Uninvited Guest) has a knack of striking the balance between playfulness and poignance.”   

Funded by the AHRC Impact Acceleration Account, the show was inspired by a number of sessions that brought creative, academic and medical experts together to explore the issue.  

The creative team also partnered with Flippin’ Pain, a nationwide public health movement to share the (often surprising) science behind why persistent pain can occur. With their support, people with real experience of persistent pain were also given opportunity to discuss and share their experiences through video. These videos will be played as part of the performance. 

Teesside University’s Professor Antonia Liguori expands: “This performance is a vibrant celebration of creativity and collaboration, demonstrating how truly listening to each other’s lived experiences can enrich lives through mutual learning and support, all shared in a spirit of positivity.  

“With the generous support of the AHRC Impact Acceleration Account, we have applied digital storytelling techniques to inform the co-creation of this theatrical piece, inspired by the lives of people who have experienced pain and whose understanding of that pain has been profoundly transformed for the better. It is our hope that this performance will also inspire a positive shift in your own understanding and experience of pain.” 

The Uninvited Guest is suitable for all ages, and will be visiting theatre and community facing venues between 10th and 18th October. 

The show will last around 60 minutes, with a short opportunity for a chat and feedback afterwards., Tickets are priced at £5 concession/£7 full and available from the Theatre Space website.

Come along and enjoy the wedding of the year…if they make it that far!