Help us take new, one woman play 'Villain' by Martin Murphy to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Villain is a new one woman play by Martin Murphy. This summer we are delighted to have confirmed a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Underbelly. We hope that the Edinburgh run will allow us to showcase the play in order to organise a UK tour and London run, to give this inspiring play a life beyond the fringe. We are looking for backers to help us make this happen.
Tired of her highly paid sales job, Rachel makes a move into social work only to find herself involved in a controversial case bringing her into the media's unforgiving gaze. Villain tells the story of a woman who wants to make a difference.
Dark, topical and hilarious in places.
On the writer's previous play Manor
“Powerful” WhatsOnStage ![Image]()
“Brutally beautiful” Remote Goat ![Image]()
“Captivating dialogue” Spoonfed ![Image]()
“Martin Murphy’s writing is brutal, poetic and bloody funny. A play which deserves to be seen in the flesh” David Scinto writer, Sexy Beast
Who We Are
Bruised Sky Productions
Our aim at Bruised Sky is to push the boundaries of theatre and film.
We make raw, passionate, truthful work.
We want new productions with no limits. No excuses.
Martin Murphy – Playwright and Executive Director
Martin's previous writing credits for theatre include Manor (Soho Theatre then Tristan Bates, Covent Garden) and Barren (Old Vic) as well as numerous works at venues including Liverpool Everyman Theatre. For screen Martin's work includes the short film Poisoned and his first feature is currently in development for Rebel Without Crew Films.
Jules Haworth – Associate Producer and Dramaturg
Jules is Education Producer at Soho Theatre and runs Writers' Lab and Comedy Lab for emerging artists. She has read for a number of playwriting competitions including the Verity Bargate Award, Soho Young Playwrights and Soho Young Writers' Award.
As a freelance dramaturg Jules has worked on shows including Brute by Izzy Tennyson (Ideas Tap Underbelly Award 2015, Underbelly), Muscovado by Matilda Ibini (Alfred Fagon Award 2015, Theatre 503), Your Image by Gemma Copping (Soho Young Writers' Award 2013) Villain by Martin Murphy, Greywing House by Mary Beth Morossa (Vault Festival) and The Dogs of War by Tim Foley (Old Red Lion).
Jules has also appeared as a panellist for Sphinx Theatre's Women Centre Stage and as a judge for Directors Cut (Pleasance Theatre). Her play Pigeon Steps was longlisted for the Adrian Pagan Award 2014.
Hannah Cox – Associate Producer
Hannah is Education Manager at Southbank Centre and has been working in Arts Education for 12 years. She has extensive experience programming and producing for Southbank Centre, Soho Theatre, and numerous smaller organisations, as well as running her own company Crafternoon Cabaret Club. Hannah is a passionate advocate for political theatre and new writing.
Kevin Millband – Technical Manager
Kevin trained in Sound Design and has worked as a technician in a range of venues including Soho Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe.
James Kermack – Artistic Director
James is the founder member of the company. His first feature as a writer/director Hi-Lo Joe, was completed in 2015 and shot on a low budget. It will be showing at the New York and Singapore International Film Festivals in 2016. It has also been selected as part of the BFI Breakthrough strand playing at the BFI in June. His second feature is currently in development and preparing for a 2017 shoot.
The Play
This play has been written to place a spotlight on the growing pressures on social workers and social care agencies, the growth of child poverty, and how the media approaches 'public interest' stories. The play has been developed through research into past true-life cases and interviews with social workers.
Over the last ten years the growth of social media has allowed us to connect across the world but has also led us to delve further and further into the personal lives of anyone who happens to fall under the spotlight. Can you try and do good without bringing risk to yourself? What really qualifies as public interest?
Why we need you
Taking a show to Edinburgh is an expensive undertaking, but a huge opportunity. We will be fundraising through previews, as well as personally investing in the show. However we are also hoping to secure investments, of every size, to help us cover these costs:
- Paying our actress and marketing team.
- Cover travel and accommodation for the company (actress, playwright, assistant and technician)
- Pay for marketing materials such as flyers, posters and brochure listings .
We are looking to raise £6,000 to support this show and give this important story a future life. Our fundraising objectives mean that every penny of money made through ticket sales up at the fringe can then be reinvested into a London run and UK tour of this play.
How to donate
You can donate via this Indiegogo campaign where we have a range of fantastic rewards waiting for you for donations ranging from £10 to £500.
Become a Bruised Sky Angel
Every sky needs its angels and we’re looking for generous patrons to donate amounts of £1,000+. Our angels will receive a credit as an Executive Producer in our marketing and online, signed copies of the playscript and poster and our everlasting gratitude, as well as being invited to attend a special performance with friends after the Fringe.
Other ways you can help
You can also help us by sharing this campaign with your friends and colleagues and spreading the word on social media about the Edinburgh run.
#VillainPlay
@BruisedSky
www.bruisedskyproductions.com
