Emma Rydal Gets Soaked
Does “I’ve only had a few” sound familiar? A new play by Cumbrian star, Emma Rydal is about to confront the UK’s drinking issue head on.
In 2014, 58% of adults in the UK said they had drank alcohol at least once in the previous week and a study in 2016 reported that 8 million people in the UK drank over the recommended units on their heaviest drinking day. As a society, we have an alcohol problem.
Soaked, which has received funding from the Arts Council England and Cumbria County Council, will premiere at Rosehill Theatre on 30 September. It is the first play co-produced by the theatre since the venue’s £2.7 million redevelopment, in association with Emma’s theatre company La’al Marra Productions. Directed by Peter McQueen, the play will tour Cumbria and Manchester this autumn.
Image taken by Paul Johnson.
Filled with drama and humour, but telling an important story, Soaked seeks to unnerve and provoke discussion. Emma, who has written and stars in the play, is renowned for finding comedy in the every day and Soaked is no exception. She admits she was inspired by her own life and the people around her.
She said: “I think we’re all slightly addicted to it.
“Even before Bridget Jones was writing her units down, I was keeping track of how many units I’d had and how many cigarettes, I’m a bit obsessed about it.”
She added: “There are so many people who are worried about their drinking but don’t want to talk about it. I just think it’s a story that needed telling.”
Soaked tells the story of one couple and their relationship with the booze. It will look at our culture of over-drinking and the lies we tell ourselves, but also the stresses and pressures which have us reaching for the bottle and the boozy offers on the supermarket shelves.
Emma said: “I find it fascinating all the lies that people tell when talking about alcohol. I work in a bar and it really makes me laugh when people go, ‘Oh, I’ve only had a few drinks,’ but you know that you served them a whole bottle of prosecco earlier.”
Following a successful career in theatre, TV and radio, Emma, is excited to be creating something in Cumbria that will get everyone talking.
She said: “I’m absolutely terrified, because I’m really putting myself out there, but I’m excited about the buzz that I’m creating. A good piece of theatre should entertain and provoke a discussion, this is something people really want to talk about.”
And if nothing else, it’s a good excuse for a drink.
For full tour dates go to www.laalmarra.co.uk
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