Handle With Care

Handle With Care opens at The Stables Theatre on Monday 7 December, a one-act play written by Wilma Boddy and directed by Niall Whitehead. It's a short, intense piece that runs about 30 minutes without an interval, followed by a Q&A.

The story follows three friends—Effie, Lacey and Nancy—as they grapple with an addiction that's slowly taking over their lives. It asks how far people are willing to go for someone they love, and it deals with teenage alcohol abuse. It's recommended for ages 12 and over.

There's a bit of a story behind the play itself. Wilma Boddy was an A-level student who had never written a play before when she entered The Stables' competition for young playwrights. She decided to take part because she felt there were too few pieces out there that reflected her view of the world. In a podcast she recorded with Stuart Baillie, she talks about her inspiration, the characters she created, and why parents can be like parasites.

It's a single act, so it's a fairly quick commitment on a Monday night. The show starts at 19:30 at The Stables Theatre and Arts Centre, The Bourne, Hastings, TN34 3BD, and all tickets are £5.00.