York theatre group York Actors Collective to stage a timely play about the realities of zero contract employment.
Beyond Caring tells the story of three women living with the reality of low wage, zero contract employment. They are agency cleaners at a meat factory. They are never sure of how many hours they have to work, when they will be paid and whether their ‘job’ will continue.
It is being performed at Theatre@41, Monkgate, from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 February 2024.
Beyond Caring follows the York Actors Collective’s debut production of Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane.
The play is by Alexander Zedlin, and premiered at the Yard Theatre in East London in 2014. The production later transferred to the National Theatre and then toured the UK.
This production is directed by Angie Millard, and the cast includes Victoria Delaney, Claire Halliday, Mick Liversidge, Chris Pomfrett and Neil Vincent.
Director Angie Millard said: “This play is remarkable in its structure and power. It totally represents 2023 where many workers are on the breadline, trapped in employment with no guarantee of further work and no way to improve their position.
“What drew me to the play however, is the message it conveys about people surviving and keeping a sense of humour. I loved the intensity of the piece with its silences, its disappointments and its determination to get pleasure out of the smallest things. It gave me hope.”
Tickets are £14 and are available via the Theatre@41 website.