Sunny Girl
Erin is a mess. But is she autistic?
Finalist for Hope Mill Theatre's Through the Mill Prize 2021
Erin has lived her entire life in a complete sense of disarray. She has no idea how to gain control of her life and has no idea why she isn’t normal. Erin wants an explanation for why she isn’t normal, and that explanation appears to be an Autism diagnosis.
In Sunny Girl, Erin takes us on her diagnosis journey, and as she discovers more about herself, she starts to realise there are other aspects in her life which are hurting her. Erin has to confront her past, with her sister ‘Tit Witch’, and her future with her boyfriend Alfie.
Sunny Girl is the anti rain man, and aims to show a side of autism that is very rarely seen on stage and screen.
All performances of Sunny Girl will be relaxed, with integrated creative captioning. There will be a BSL interpreted performance at the New Adelphi Theatre, Salford on the 24th of July, 7pm.
Finalist for Hope Mill Theatre's Through the Mill Prize 2021
Erin has lived her entire life in a complete sense of disarray. She has no idea how to gain control of her life and has no idea why she isn’t normal. Erin wants an explanation for why she isn’t normal, and that explanation appears to be an Autism diagnosis.
In Sunny Girl, Erin takes us on her diagnosis journey, and as she discovers more about herself, she starts to realise there are other aspects in her life which are hurting her. Erin has to confront her past, with her sister ‘Tit Witch’, and her future with her boyfriend Alfie.
Sunny Girl is the anti rain man, and aims to show a side of autism that is very rarely seen on stage and screen.
All performances of Sunny Girl will be relaxed, with integrated creative captioning. There will be a BSL interpreted performance at the New Adelphi Theatre, Salford on the 24th of July, 7pm.
What to Expect from Sunny Girl
- The house will open 30 minutes before the show starts so that you can familiarise yourself with the space and find a comfortable place to sit.
- Seating is unreserved, please see the venue specific ‘What to Expect’ below for seating options.
- Sunny Girl is approximately 1 hour long. It may be shorter or longer depending on the performer's health and access needs that day.
- The work explores autism, diagnosis, ableism and family dynamics.
- The work contains strong language/swearing.
- All performances are relaxed, which means we have an inclusive approach to noise and movement coming from the audience. You are welcome to wriggle, move, stim, or respond in any way that is natural for you. There is no interval, but you are free to come in and out, to use the toilet or decompress at any time.
- Throughout the performance the lights on the audience, known as the ‘house lights’ will stay on low. This is so you can come and go safely and freely.
- There will be no flashing or strobe lighting.
- There will be no blackouts.
- Projection will be used throughout and will display creative captions on the scenery.
- The performance contains non-amplified dialogue and amplified songs (mostly Taylor Swift). Sound levels will be lowered.
- You are welcome to use ear defenders, fidget toys or any other sensory aids you might have brought with you.
- We will also provide ear plugs, fidget toys, cushions and blankets. You can borrow these from the Access Table outside the performance space.
- Beth’s writing is very descriptive and includes scene setting, character introductions and descriptions of lighting, set and props which will be beneficial to visually impaired and neurodivergent audiences.
- On the 24th of July at 7pm, at the New Adelphi Theatre, the performance will be interpreted into British Sign Language (BSL) by Cheryl Walker. Cheryl will stand on stage left (if you’re looking at the stage from the audience, Cheryl will be on your right side).
- After the performance, you will not be rushed out of the space. You will have 15 minutes to ease out of the world Beth has created and then another 30 minutes in the public area of the venue to decompress.
The Sunny Girl Team
Performed by playwright Beth Westbrook
Director: (2024): Imogen Dowdlng
Producer: Hannah Ellis Ryan
Access Consultant: Ash Cox
Stage Manager: Tilly Phillipson
Dramaturg & Evaluation Consultant: Dan Jarvis
Blogger & Support Worker: Maisy Whipp
Director (2021 R&D): Suzie MacDonald
Images by Shay Rowan
Creative Captioner and Filmmaker: Grant Archer
Lighting Designer: Jess Brigham
BSL Interpreter: Cheryl Walker
Book tickets to see Sunny Girl
as part of the GM Fringe
at the New Adelphi Theatre Salford
from the 22nd - 24th July.
Book tickets to see Sunny Girl
at The Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool
on the 25th July.
What to Expect from the Venue: New Adelphi, Salford
Director: (2024): Imogen Dowdlng
Producer: Hannah Ellis Ryan
Access Consultant: Ash Cox
Stage Manager: Tilly Phillipson
Dramaturg & Evaluation Consultant: Dan Jarvis
Blogger & Support Worker: Maisy Whipp
Director (2021 R&D): Suzie MacDonald
Images by Shay Rowan
Creative Captioner and Filmmaker: Grant Archer
Lighting Designer: Jess Brigham
BSL Interpreter: Cheryl Walker
Book tickets to see Sunny Girl
as part of the GM Fringe
at the New Adelphi Theatre Salford
from the 22nd - 24th July.
Book tickets to see Sunny Girl
at The Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool
on the 25th July.
What to Expect from the Venue: New Adelphi, Salford
- The New Adelphi Theatre and Studio is situated inside the New Adelphi Building, which is home to the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies, University of Salford.
- You’ll find us on the A6, just behind Salford Crescent Train Station on the Peel Park Campus of the University of Salford. Directions and parking can be found here: https://www.newadelphitheatre.co.uk/directions/
- Entry to the New Adelphi Building is accessible with step-free access and double automatic doors.
- There is level access to male and female toilets and an accessible toilet, which are located on the ground floor behind the Box Office. There are additional toilets – including gender neutral toilets – situated on the first floor above Box Office which can be accessed via the lifts.
- There are three lifts, two standard and one large, that travel to the bar and additional accessible toilets.
- Please check-in at the Box Office when you arrive. You do not need to print your tickets or have them scanned. Just give your name.
- Seating in the Studio Theatre is unreserved. There will be bean bags, unlimited spaces for wheelchair users and standard studio theatre seating without armrests. Audience capacity is capped at 50 people to ensure you have plenty of space and don’t feel too crowded.
- The theatre allows drinks in plastic containers (the bar will provide plastic cups upon purchase of a drink) and snacks into the Theatre, however hot food is prohibited.
- The bar sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks. There is also a vending machine on the ground floor.
- The theatre does not have a cloakroom, please keep personal belongings with you. Storage of bulky items such as prams and suitcases can be arranged – please see the Front of House Coordinator upon arrival.
- There will be a dedicated chill out space for audiences, we cannot guarantee this space will be quiet or private.
- Assistance dogs are welcome in the New Adelphi Building and theatre spaces.
- There are Security Staff on campus 24/7 who are able to First Respond.
- Hope Street Theatre is located at 22 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BY, diagonally opposite the Everyman Theatre. https://hopestreettheatre.com/your-visit/
- There is limited on street parking on Hope Street. There are secure car parks on Heathfield Street (just off Renshaw Street) and Oldham Street both of which are a 5-7 minute walk away.
- There are 8 steps from Hope Street to enter the building. The team currently have an application in process to have a lift installed.
- Please check-in at the Box Office when you arrive. You do not need to print your tickets or have them scanned. Just give your name.
- There is level access to male and female toilets and an accessible toilet.
- Seating in the theatre is raked and unreserved, with standard studio theatre seating without armrests, there are steps to navigate to reach seating higher up on the rake. The front row had step-free access.
- Audience capacity is capped at 50 people to ensure you have plenty of space and don’t feel too crowded.
- The theatre allows drinks in plastic containers (the bar will provide plastic cups upon purchase of a drink) and snacks into the Theatre, however hot food is prohibited.
- There will be a dedicated chill out space for audiences, we cannot guarantee this space will be quiet or private.
- Assistance dogs are welcome in the Hope Street Theatre.
