An illustration of a woman dressed in a smart outfit. She is under water. She is swimming to the surface.
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SURFACING

PRESENTED BY ASYLUM ARTS
WRITTEN BY TOM POWELL
DIRECTED BY STEPHEN BAILEY
What if when you came up for air, the world you once knew was gone?

NHS therapist Luc is fine. Honest. She’s definitely not overwhelmed by meeting Owen, a new client, definitely not freaked out by what she’s started seeing, definitely doesn’t think her reality has been punctured and something else is leaking in. Luc goes for a swim and feels a hand dragging her down to the bottom of the lake… When she surfaces, her reality is different.

She’s haunted by tormented mice, shape-shifting shadows and secrets she thought she’d buried. As she hunts for Owen through this upside down world she comes closer to her past and the truth she’s desperately hidden.

Papatango Prize Winner Tom Powell’s breath-taking new thriller examines hallucinations, neurodivergence and the state of mental health care. With innovative creative captioning and haunting music, the production uses new motion sensor technology to create responsive light and sound to evoke a very real and lived experience of disassociation. Directed by RTST Sir Peter Hall Director’s Award Winner Stephen Bailey.

All performances are presented in a relaxed environment, captioned and have integrated audio description.

Supported by Arts Council England, Pentabus, Unlimited and The Barbican Centre.

Surfacing Post Show Discussion

Friday May 17th
Speakers: Dr Jasmine Martinez (she/her) Clinical Psychologist. Former NHS Talking Therapies Practitioner.
Tom Powell (he/him). Writer, Surfacing
Stephen Bailey (he/they). Director, Surfacing

Entry is free

Thursday May 23rd
Speakers: Dr Benji Waterhouse (he/him). Psychiatrist . Author of You Don’t Have to be Mad to Work Here.
Stephan Bailey (he/they). Director, Surfacing
Sammy Trotman (she/they) and Scott Ward (he/him) Covered in Jam. Creator and Performers of That’s Not My Name, touring now.

Entry is free to ticket holders. 

 

14 MAY-1 JUN
7:30PM (Tues-Sat) 4PM (Sun)
£18 STANDARD
£16 CONCESSIONS
£10 PREVIEWS

SURFACING

PRESENTED BY ASYLUM ARTS
WRITTEN BY TOM POWELL
DIRECTED BY STEPHEN BAILEY
What if when you came up for air, the world you once knew was gone?

NHS therapist Luc is fine. Honest. She’s definitely not overwhelmed by meeting Owen, a new client, definitely not freaked out by what she’s started seeing, definitely doesn’t think her reality has been punctured and something else is leaking in. Luc goes for a swim and feels a hand dragging her down to the bottom of the lake… When she surfaces, her reality is different.

She’s haunted by tormented mice, shape-shifting shadows and secrets she thought she’d buried. As she hunts for Owen through this upside down world she comes closer to her past and the truth she’s desperately hidden.

Papatango Prize Winner Tom Powell’s breath-taking new thriller examines hallucinations, neurodivergence and the state of mental health care. With innovative creative captioning and haunting music, the production uses new motion sensor technology to create responsive light and sound to evoke a very real and lived experience of disassociation. Directed by RTST Sir Peter Hall Director’s Award Winner Stephen Bailey.

All performances are presented in a relaxed environment, captioned and have integrated audio description.

Supported by Arts Council England, Pentabus, Unlimited and The Barbican Centre.

Surfacing Post Show Discussion

Friday May 17th
Speakers: Dr Jasmine Martinez (she/her) Clinical Psychologist. Former NHS Talking Therapies Practitioner.
Tom Powell (he/him). Writer, Surfacing
Stephen Bailey (he/they). Director, Surfacing

Entry is free

Thursday May 23rd
Speakers: Dr Benji Waterhouse (he/him). Psychiatrist . Author of You Don’t Have to be Mad to Work Here.
Stephan Bailey (he/they). Director, Surfacing
Sammy Trotman (she/they) and Scott Ward (he/him) Covered in Jam. Creator and Performers of That’s Not My Name, touring now.

Entry is free to ticket holders. 

 

14 MAY-1 JUN
7:30PM (Tues-Sat) 4PM (Sun)
£18 STANDARD
£16 CONCESSIONS
£10 PREVIEWS

★★★★

“a haunting and poignant piece of theatre that remains in the mind even after leaving the theatre”

One Show at a Time

★★★★★

“Surreal, evocative and empathetic”

North West End

★★★★

“Profound – if you ever have a chance to see this extraordinary play, don’t miss it”

A Young-ish Perspective

★★★★

“Heart-breaking”

Review Hub

★★★★

“Haunting”

West End With Me

★★★★

“this steadily-paced and fascinating play provides much food for thought.”

LondonTheatre1

★★★★

“There is an individuality and complexity to one’s mental illnesses … Surfacing isn’t afraid to express the beauty behind such a scenario, however controversial that may be.”

Liam O’Dell

“fearless in its attempt to broach the subject of mental health and using non-naturalistic techniques to denote the universal susceptibility of self-doubt.”

Breaking the Fourth Wall

“Surfacing is an intelligent piece of writing, approaching the subject from a different angle.”

Theatreweekly

“Extraordinary… heart-breaking and beautifully insightful.”

Leftlion

Surfacing | Rehearsal Gallery

Photo credit: Oliver Spencer

Surfacing | Production Shots

Photo credit: Martin Bostock

Surfacing | Trailer

Surfacing | Vox Pop

Book Now

Concessions

Concessions apply to students, under-18s, over-60s and more. For more info on our concession policy click here→

Accessibility

All performance spaces and facilities are fully wheelchair-accessible. For more info please contact Box Office on 0207 498 4699.

Ticket Collection

We operate a paperless box office system. You will be emailed a receipt once you have booked in advance. There is no need to print this off, just state your name at the box office on arrival.

Café Bar

Serving a menu of hot drinks, craft beers, wine and seasonal cocktails before and after every show and a full home-made food menu including freshly baked pastries, delicious cakes and savoury light bites from Friday – Sunday.

Content Warnings

Surfacing is a magic realist evocation of neurodivergent experiences and disassociation. Contains scenes from mental health therapy practices, themes of bereavement and loss, experiences of disassociation. Descriptions of loss and animal testing. Surfacing contains no depictions of addiction, self-harm or suicide. The intention is always to explore, not shock. We are open to detailed requests of specific triggers (asylumcic@gmail.com) Balloons are used in performance. None are popped.

Find out more here.

Age Recommendation

14+

Duration

75m

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