'I have this hole in me
here
here
and here
and my whole life is spend just tryin' not to fall in.'
SCAB by Luke Stapleton
Set in a deprived coastal town in the north of England, 'Scab' asks to what extent we can delve into the life of a stranger.
On his way home from the night shift, a young man reluctantly performs an act of goodwill for an older man lying injured outside a pub. What starts as a comedic commentary on social responsibility develops into an explotation of loneliness, trauma and family as the young man embarks on a journey into the hidden depths of the older man's life.
Written by Luke Stapleton ('Mycorrhiza', The Space; script editor on Amazon Prime's 'Hanna'), performed by Conor Lowson ('The Liberator'; BBC's 'Ladhood'), and directed by Jamie Biddle ('Whitechapel: Suspects, Lunatics and a Leather Apron'; 'Extinct', Bush Theatre), this kinetic piece of storytelling was scheduled to debut at VAULT Festival in March 2020.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, VAULT Festival closed a week early. 'Scab' was finally meant its debut this November and then January as part of the White Bear Theatre's Homecoming Festival, but both performances been postponed due to COVID-19. Watch this space for more news in 2021