Scratch is an explosion of performance from which new universes of theatre may one day emerge. These jam-packed platforms are highlights of the CPT programme: the place to see wild and wonderful new projects take their first steps. For the festival, we'll be exclusively programming deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists, sharing brand new ideas.
Each bill features three or four artists or companies performing 15-20 minutes of fresh-from-the-rehearsal-room work-in-development. They’re doing so because they want to know what works and what doesn’t, and they’d love you to tell them. So please join us for – and share your thoughts on – these exclusive previews of tomorrow’s most exciting theatre, today...
Lineup:
The Complex - Terri Donovan
How can anyone define who they truly are when they’re completely fucked by fate?
Jo is fucking pissed, pissed off, and pissed up. Her bastard husband is out as cold as you can get, and there are whispers amongst the men that her fate is about to be sealed up for good.
The Complex (one person show) excavates and reimagines the character of Jocasta (based on the story of Oedipus) for the modern day, and asks:
Who is allowed autonomy and ownership of their narrative?
Is it possible to break free of fate?
And what are the limits of love?
Dirty Deaf Diary - Amy Murray
Warning: Contains strong BSL, dirty looks, and filthy truths. Hearing folks, you’ve been warned.
Ever wondered what a Deaf woman really thinks? Amy Murray is done staying quiet. In this outrageously funny and totally unfiltered solo show, she cracks open her personal diary — and no, it’s not full of cute doodles and positive quotes. It’s raw. It’s honest. And it’s very, very Deaf.
From awkward subtitle disasters to toe-curling “hearies hero” moments, Dirty Deaf Diary dives headfirst into the weird, wonderful and painfully relatable parts of Deaf life that usually get swept under the rug. Performed in British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken English, this is comedy with a bite — perfect for anyone who’s ever felt left out, misunderstood, or just fed up with having to be polite.
Expect sass, big stories, and a lot of “wait... did she really just say that?!” moments. It’s messy, rebellious and deeply real — because when you’ve spent a lifetime being told to tone it down, sometimes the only option is to flip the script.
For Deaf, disabled and hearing audiences aged 18+. No pity. No polish. Just punchlines.
White Babe - Sophia Ginsburg
“I can't raise a white baby.”
Far too late in their relationship, interracial lesbian couple Lina and Frankie must discuss the race of their sperm donor. How can you explain to your partner that they fundamentally misunderstand the weight of your cultural heritage?
BSL interpretation by Hahna Ahmed.
Tobi King Bakare and this theatre deserve a shout-out for such a young, diverse audience. There is so much talk about audiences being full of over 60s and why, why can’t theatres get the crowds in to reflect society in general? Well, I’m happy to say that on a rainy Thursday evening, the theatre was completely full.
Caiti Grove on Before I Go in CPT's Spring 2023 season London Theatre Reviews
