Lynn Faces, the award-winning chaotic punk band response to coercive control, will embark on a UK tour after a run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it won the Birds of Paradise Exceptional Theatre Award. Starting on at Norwich Theatre, the show comes to The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 12 – 15 February, before visiting Exeter Northcott’s Barnfield Theatre and New Diorama.
Tickets for the run at TRP are now on sale: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/lynn-faces/#book
Leah is emerging from a deeply toxic breakup, nearing 40, and in need of a seismic change. What is one meant to do - drink a bottle of wine and form a punk band inspired by a fictional cardigan-wearing PA? Well, yes. Naturally.
This tragicomic, insightful, and poignant exploration of the long-term impacts of abusive relationships takes us along to this punk band's one and only gig in a tiny basement bar. Frontwoman Leah channels her long-term identification with the put-upon Lynn Benfield, Alan Partridge's assistant, to form the emotional core of the punk band at the centre of this hopeful piece, showing that recovery from her toxic dynamic is possible - with a little help from your friends.
This lightly chaotic but touching show takes us on a journey through the stages of healing and acceptance, via a whole lot of rage. Sticking two fingers up at her abusive ex-partner, Leah draws on the inner strength of Lynn - as well as her iconic faces, her stoicism, and her snazzy cardigans - to find her own power, humour, and liberation.
Lynn Faces is co-commissioned by New Diorama Theatre, Norwich Theatre and Theatre Royal Plymouth, and written by Laura Horton. It was one of 16 works selected for the inaugural Summerhall Surgeries programme in 2023 – a artist development initiative by Summerhall in partnership with the Fringe Society, showcasing innovative work by early-career artists.
Speaking about the production, Laura Horton says: “I’m delighted to be touring Lynn Faces. I’ve put so much of myself into this production, from the seed of a small, weird idea to this production, with the most wonderful creative team. Finding hope in the face of adversity, feels like a prescient theme.”
Laura Horton is a multi-award-winning writer and Plymouth Laureate of Words 2021-23, the first woman and playwright in the role. Her debut play Labyrinth Diet was an OFFCOMM winner in 2021. Her follow-up Breathless was awarded the Pleasance Regional Partnership. It won a Fringe First, was a finalist for the Popcorn Award. The show enjoyed runs at Soho Theatre and in New York as part of Brits Off Broadway in 2023. She has written several short plays. An associate of The Space, Laura launched digital projects Hidden by Things and Theatre Stories, for which she was in The Stage100. Laura also runs Bad Sex Writing workshops and shows.
Lynn Faces premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Summerhall to critical acclaim and received the Birds of Paradise Exceptional Theatre Award.