A dramatic manifestation

Two former Uclan theatre students are launching their UK tour at Preston’s new 
Korova Arts Cafe and Bar 
tomorrow night.
Alice Smithson and Laura Hills-LeighAlice Smithson and Laura Hills-Leigh
Alice Smithson and Laura Hills-Leigh

Preston based Scrunchie Theatre Company, run by acting graduates Alice Smithson and Laura Hills-Leigh (pictured above outside the Korova) will take their devised piece, Extreme Withdrawal is Manifest, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of the tour.

Alice said: “I’ve been going since I was very young and it’s an opportunity to showcase your skills as actors.”

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Both are excited to premiere the piece in Preston. Laura said: “This is our base, it is the city we graduated from and met in.”

And the Korova itself is where they developed the work.

Alice said: “We’ve been given the opportunity to work on the piece in an acting environment, without being restricted for space and money, where we’ve had all the help we’ve asked for.”

Laura said: “It introduced us to support that we didn’t realise was out there.“

The piece began life in research on stories of patients suffering from hallucinations and delusions, as well as using family experience.

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The intense play follows the traumatic experiences of a mother left drowning in the wake of her daughter’s disappearance.

An original and innovative work devised and performed by this new duo, it is also a performance that encompasses unusual use of multi-role and multi-media to create fast-paced drama.

Preston is the start of their North West tour scheduled throughout July, including venues in Liverpool, Bingley, the Buxton Fringe and the Greater Manchester Fringe, before venturing to 
Edinburgh.

Extreme Withdrawal is performed on Friday and 
Saturday.

Box office: Korova Arts Café and Bar and Preston 
Visitor Information Centre.

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