Movement Direction
The Space Theatre, East London | September – October 2017
Written by Tamara Von Werthern and directed by Lily McLiesh
Millions of people cycle to work every day. And every week, some of them don’t make it home. One Tuesday morning, Isabelle packs her lunch box into her pannier, kisses her young daughter goodbye and sets off on her bike through Hackney. What happens along the way is at once shocking, inconceivable and terrifyingly ordinary.
Inspired by the story of Eilidh Cairns & set along an existing route ‘The White Bike’ is an affecting play about personal loss and a celebration of one woman’s life, tragically cut short. Directed by Lily McLeish (Associate Director on The Royal Court/Katie Mitchell’s Anatomy of a Suicide & Ophelias Zimmer) and written by Tamara von Werthern (Founder of Fizzy Sherbet – a new writing initiative for women writers) this world premiere creates an immersive experience of cycling in a physical, abstract and imaginative way.
Press
★★★★★ ‘This is a beautiful play ...a physical ensemble piece, the elaborate synchronicity in the movement serves the story well giving a sense of scope and spectacle to an otherwise intimate story’ The Spy In The Stalls
★★★★ ‘This is the most human and probably most convincing ghost story to be seen on stage for a long time… will stick in the mind long after leaving the venue’ The Upcoming
‘Much stage work has gone into realising this and Isabelle’s journey through movement, special effects, lighting, sound, props and physical theatre, culminating in the harrowing fatal event that ends her life… Just like Isabelle’s ride to work, the journey of the performance is what makes The White Bike so powerful’ Sardines Magazine
★★★★ West End Wilma
