Closed Doors

Inspired by the reality of a multicultural neighbourhood in Glasgow, Closed Doors weaves together the stories of several senior women with little in common except their post code. Thrown together when their block of flats is evacuated by police, their prejudices and preconceptions about one another quickly surface and while they are initially blinded by their differences, they soon discover where their similarities lie.With a spoken word and sung narrative set against the backdrop of an exhilarating live score and projected animations, Closed Doors refuses to recognise genre boundaries as it tackles questions of identity, heritage, community and isolation with rigour and heart.

Closed Doors is an exploration of how disparate communities can and do live literally on top of one another in multicultural Britain. It examines what is similar between us and what is different; how someone can feel like a stranger in the society they were born into and how one can find a home in a country far from the land where they grew up. It asks questions about the conflicts which arise around heritage and inheritance, land and property and the right to remain.

The three artists involved are pianist/songwriter Lauren Gilmour, drummer/producer Audrey Tait and writer and performer Belle Jones.

The first incarnation of the project was performed at Flint and Pitch at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in May 2017. It was then developed through the Summerhall Lab in Early 2018 and appears at Summerhall for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018.

Reviews:

***** “a spectacular combination of beautifully written theatre, wonderful music and a solid, important message.” Broadway World

**** “It is the words that are the hero in this show.” – The Wee Review

**** “Full of the energy of the streets ” The Scotsman