In the pressurised worlds of football and finance, two women carve their own path.
Following a sold-out, 5-star run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023, Bitter Lemons now makes its highly anticipated London premiere at Park Theatre. Written and directed by Lucy Hayes (Bonsai Baby, Theatre503; Plant Daddy, Pleasance London), this explosive and humorous play tackles the pressures on women’s bodies and the power society holds over them.
Through the parallel lives of two ambitious women from different worlds, Bitter Lemons challenges the misunderstood and heavily politicised narratives that surround abortion and women’s access to it. Brought to life by Shannon Hayes (The Lonely Londoners, Jermyn Street Theatre; Vigil, BBC; Ted Lasso, Apple TV) and Chanel Waddock (Hamlet, National Theatre; WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT GRIEF R&D, Donmar Warehouse; The Outlaws, BBC/Amazon), Bitter Lemons shares honest conversations as both women fall pregnant and undergo abortions.
Tackling the excitement, nerves and ambitious anticipation of the biggest professional challenges their careers have seen so far, two women carve their own path in this production, which heralds the right to freedom of speech. Outside of the competitive industries of football and finance, Bitter Lemons explores the complexities surrounding societal judgements and personal conflict when lives shift unexpectedly.
Writer and director Lucy Hayes comments, I wrote the play in part as a response to the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022 and was blown away by the audience’s impassioned response. It highlighted to me the vitality of stories that address stigma and shame in nuanced, funny and surprising ways and puts a fire in each and every show.
Bitter Lemons: Tuesday 27th August – Saturday 14th September 2024, 7.45pm
- Thursday and Saturday matinee – 3.15pm
- Thursday 5th Sept – dementia friendly performance – 3.15pm
- Venue: Park Theatre, Park90, 13 Clifton Terrace, London N4 3JP
- Running time: 60 minutes
★★★★★ ‘Excellent script, brilliant performances’ - EdFestMag
★★★★★ ‘Glitters like a gem… moving and important piece of theatre’ - Roaming Reader
Trailer: Bitter Lemons | Official Trailer - YouTube
Tickets: purchase.parktheatre.co.uk