PRESS RELEASE - Delicates and Smoke - by Rebecca Russell

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2004
Pleasance Courtyard August 5th-22nd 1.35pm (1hr 20mins)

Delicates - written and performed by Rebecca Russell

Moira loves her children to death.

Moira loves her children more than life itself. Abandoned by her husband, she worries alone about the health of her eldest child. When nobody believes he is ill, she fights on to convince them in her own tragic, misunderstood way.

Recently discredited for his evidence in the high profile appeals of Angela Canning and Sally Clark, mothers wrongly convicted of killing their children, Professor Sir Roy Meadows is infamous for coining the phrase Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) in 1977. MSBP is a covert, potentially lethal and frequently misunderstood form of child abuse which is difficult to detect and confirm.

Smoke - performed by Roger Bartlett

Greg is a master of fire.

Greg is a fire fighter. A hero. When your fire alarm goes off, he gladly risks his life to save yours. He hates his abusive father and blames his mother for silently ignoring the childhood abuse.

95% of serial killers are white males who hate their parents. The majority will have suffered some measure of psychological, sexual or physical abuse as children.

Is Greg a serial killer wreaking a terrible revenge on those who unwittingly cross him?

Delicates and Smoke are two harrowing new monologues. The stories of two twisted lives pushed to the edge of sanity through love and loss. What turns a doting mother or loving son into a killer? Is it genetic, in-built, pre-determined? Does the capability to kill lie dormant inside every one of us waiting to be triggered by a twist of fate?

About Tidemark

Tidemark is an experienced producer for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe having a consistent track record for bringing high-quality, sell-out shows. Beyond Edinburgh, Tidemark has racked up considerable recognition for both writing and production work, winning numerous awards including most recently in 2003 ’The Vow’ - Regional winner and finalist at the 2003 SCDA festival with Leitheatre and winner, Best One-Act Play Derek Lomas Playwriting Competition, Wellington Literary Festival 2003.

Tidemark’s original work has been performed by many other companies throughout the UK.

Quotes from previous Tidemark reviews

"...fine production.superb character actresses...a show of notable quality."

"...Rebecca Russell is superb...Tidemark’s first production - may there be many more."

"...extremely well-written...Rebecca Russell is hilariously horrifying."

"...frequently very funny...insight and great subtlety in the writing."

"...extremely well-written...superb."