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Farr, Gareth 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9629-4899
(2016)
The Quiet House.
[Performance]
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Script of The Quiet House by Gare ... (734kB) |  Fertility Fest Website (640kB) | Reviews and feedback (36kB) |
| Item Type: | Performance |
|---|---|
| Event Summary: | The Quiet House/Fertility Fest/Birmingham Rep Theatre and The Park Theatre London /7/6/2016-9/7-2016 |
| Creators: | Farr, Gareth |
| Abstract / Summary: | Dealing with the subject of infertility and fertility treatment The Quiet House is a dramatic look at how a very ordinary couple deals with the gruelling process of IVF. The Quiet House had such an impact on audiences and the fertility industry alike that it gave rise to a collection of similar work being made. It became the catalyst for an entire festival being developed where people would visit, hear discussions and see artworks before watching the play in the evening. Further festivals were produced focussing on infertility and the wider subject areas of modern families, involuntary childlessness, donor conception and alternative routes to parenthood. Fertility Fest is now a highly acclaimed, international festival in its fourth year. With over two hundred artists, clinical professionals and medical experts collaborating in 6 cities across the world - Birmingham, London, Sydney, Vienna, Barcelona and Manchester. |
| Official URL: | https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/the-quiet-house |
| Date: | 25 May 2016 |
| Funders: | Arts Council of England, Echo Presents, The Wellcome Trust, Birmingham Rep Theatre |
| Additional Information: | (300 word statement) This is a performance-based portfolio output which includes a play produced by Birmingham Rep in 2016 and a short film commissioned by the Wellcome Collection in 2019. The original context for this research was to investigate if theatre could accurately articulate the routines and processes of those undergoing fertility treatment in a way that would: • respectfully represent those undergoing fertility treatment • inform and educate those with no understanding of fertility treatment • give patient centred insight to those working within the fertility industry. Research collaborations and interviews with fertility experts and embryologists led to an early draft staged reading of the play. In attendance were key figures from both the theatre and fertility industry - including senior dramaturg at National Theatre, senior producer of the Barbican Theatre and BBC script editors who offered feedback and guidance on script development - focussing specifically on the authentic human voice within the dialogue, the balance of tension and humour and the impact of the unfolding dramatic plot structure. On completion of this research the play was programmed and produced by Birmingham Rep Theatre and Park Theatre, London. It was also published by Nick Hern Books. Building on the audience response to the play and working with multiple supporting clinics, a festival of cross disciplinary artwork was developed. Each exhibit was paired with a leading medical professional from the fertility sector who would chair an open conversation designed to interrogate and discuss the provocations and thematic constructs within the piece. With financial support from multiple fertility clinics, The Wellcome Trust and Arts Council England three more national and international festivals kick started a campaign which successfully led to clinical change and improved patient care within all UK fertility clinics. A short film version of The Quiet House was later commissioned by The Wellcome Trust. Both the film and play are included in an archive of work held in the Wellcome Collection. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Fertility, Infertility, IVF, Theatre, Live performance, |
| Subjects: | Writing & Journalism > Literature Public Exhibition Science Performance > Theatre |
| Courses by Department: | Academy of Music & Theatre Arts > Acting |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | Gareth Farr |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Oct 2019 15:24 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Nov 2022 16:25 |
| URI: | https://falmouth-test.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/3570 |
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