National tour of alcoholism play to visit Rochdale

The play is about the Wilson family, who might be middle class and middle aged - but there is nothing middling about their alcohol intake

A one-hour play about parenting, disappointment and middle-age drinking is coming to Rochdale later this month.

Originally commissioned by the NHS, the new national tour of DRY is supported by Turning Point, which delivers drug and alcohol recovery services around the UK for people who want to make positive change in their lives.

As part of the national tour DRY will be performed at Touchstones Rochdale at 7.30pm on Wednesday 22 January 2020 and at Oldham Library Theatre at 7.00pm on Thursday 23 January 2020.  

Written by Human Story Theatre’s Gaye Poole, it will include a Q&A after each show with local guest professionals from Turning Point and other organisations to discuss the issues of the play, the impact of alcohol on communities as well as to let people know about services that can help. There will be some local references in the play too.

The play is about the Wilson family, who might be middle class and middle aged - but there is nothing middling about their alcohol intake! Can they keep the ‘toxic' out of ‘intoxicated' and keep the family together, or is it a case of sorrows drowned?

Lord Victor Adebowale, chief executive at Turning Point, said: “Every person has the possibility of change and at Turning Point we are inspired by that possibility. We can and do help people on their journeys to recovery. Turning Point supports DRY because it brings an awareness about the harm that alcohol addiction can do to individuals and society.”

The broadcaster, Adrian Chiles, who has seen DRY and attended its Q&As, said: “DRY, both the play and the Qs and As after it, is a brilliant way of getting people to engage in the issues around drinking.  All credit to everyone involved, and whoever it was in the NHS who had the imagination to commission it in the first place, and to Turning point for supporting a national tour.  It works as a wake-up call to those who may be more dependent on alcohol than they thought. But, importantly, it’s less of a health warning than a positive pointer in the direction of all the help that is available out there.”

DRY’s writer, Gaye Poole, said: “I wanted to develop something that showed in a very real way what many of us have seen or experienced ourselves. What can seem like a social norm can turn people against each other and change personalities. I’ve also introduced topical subjects into the play, such as Brexit, which people use as an excuse that ‘drives them to drink’.”

Professor Marion Lynch, deputy medical director, NHS England South, who originally commissioned DRY, said: “DRY was commissioned because of its potential to show medical professionals and the general public some of the real issues behind alcohol abuse.”

“Art and culture contribute to our health and drama such as DRY will make a huge contribution to the current alcohol crisis. Many health professionals know that cultural and community activities can make a much more positive impact than medical intervention alone. DRY’s performances in spaces like church halls, libraries and schools go to the heart of communities and will make a lot of people think about alcohol in a different way.”

Tickets in most venues are 'pay what you can' but booking (for free) would be appreciated so numbers can be gauged: 

• humanstorytheatre.com/shows/