Purple Moon Drama is presenting The Wedding Speech at VAULT Festival this February, a poignant one-woman show highlighting the unpredictable nature of co-dependency amongst families. The Wedding Speech follows Rosemary on her journey of self-discovery, as she looks inward to navigate her rocky relationship not only with her mother, but herself. Purple Moon Drama are continuing their London tour of this electric solo show and will be performing at VAULT Festival in the underground railway arches of Network Theatre.
Rosemary is preparing to do a speech at her mother’s wedding and is trying to decide what to say, as her relationship with her mother has been a little less than rosy. Rosemary yearns for emotional connection but shuns it at the same time after years of a co-dependent and toxic relationship with her mother that is taking a long time to unpick. But Rosemary will have to leave her hiding spot eventually to give her speech; she’ll have to decide whether to take the high road – or have the last word.
Purple Moon Drama help creative young people from marginalised backgrounds develop their connections and confidence to better access the creative industry. They offer a plethora of programmes and support for those who identify as being part of a marginalised group, from CV support to School Drama clubs and Facilitator Training. Taking participants through a mentor scheme of personal, professional, and creative development, the company encourage individuals to strengthen key skills for their desired career. Striving to create pathways into the arts sector, Purple Moon Drama seek to improve the diversity of the arts and the professional ecosystem within it.
Writer Cheryl May Coward-Walker comments, This is the mother and daughter relationship we’re sold from sitcoms to romcoms, and more often than not by our nearest and dearest, but what happens if your maternal bond doesn’t fit the “my mum is my BFF” mould? The Wedding Speech is an amusing take on a less-than-rosy mother and daughter relationship. The work involved in this isn’t easy, but it has the power to heal entire generations. To reduce this conversation to indulgent mum-bashing is to rob people of their healing. Healing gives us options. It’s empowering to know that you get to choose a better way of being. Nothing is fixed. You can cultivate the freedom to be all of you.
★★★★ – London Theatre 1
★★★★ – Westend Best Friend
★★★★ – London Pub Theatres
The production will also be coming to Soho Theatre for a tremendous two-night run from Wednesday 1st – Thursday 2nd March 2023.
Notes to Editors
Title The Wedding Speech
Dates Tuesday 21st – Friday 24th February 2023
Time 8:15pm
Location Network Theatre, 246A Lower Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8SJ
Social Media @purplemoondrama
Box Office https://vaultfestival.com/events/the-wedding-speech/
Website https://purplemoondrama.co.uk/
Running Time 60 minutes
Age restrictions 15+
Contains reference to or themes of co-dependency.
Writer Cheryl May Coward-Walker (she/her)
Performer Princess Donnough (she/her)
Director Simone Watson-Brown (she/her)
Producer Holly McComish (she/her)
Set Designer Paula Chitty (she/her)
Sound Designer Wil Pritchard (he/him)
Stage Manager Lauren Wedgeworth (she/her)
Purple Moon Drama
We help support creative young people to develop new skills, become more confident with what they can contribute to a working environment, by creating a supportive network of peers and mentors to nurture their ongoing journey. Our vision is to walk into an executive board room, workshop, rehearsal room, or theatre auditorium, and for there to be Black, Brown, Disabled, Working Class, Queer, POC, or people from other traditionally marginalised backgrounds, present, safe, and seen – and for that to be normal.
VAULT Festival
VAULT Festival is the UK’s leading independent showcase of live performance and artistic talent; featuring thousands of sensational performances across Theatre, Comedy, & Live Entertainment, made by the most exciting and boldest artists of our time. Set in bespoke venues across the heart of Waterloo, the festival bursts to life for eight glorious weeks of joyous creativity, adding vibrance and colour to the otherwise dreary deep winter months. We’re the most accessible, sustainable, affordable, and welcoming performance festival in the UK. We value art and entertainment equally, creating a safe-space environment where artists and audiences feel welcome, surrounded by culture created by, and for, them.
All enquiries, high res images and further information:
Phoebe Carlisle, Chloé Nelkin Consulting
E: phoebe@chloenelkinconsulting.com, T: 020 3627 2960
