Hard to Swallow by Mark Wheeller (paperback)

HARD TO SWALLOW by MARK WHEELLER

2020 edition

Based on Maureen Dunbar’s award-winning book and film Catherine: The Story of a Young Girl Who Died of Anorexia Nervosa. Catherine Dunbar died in 1984, after a seven-year battle against anorexia nervosa. She was just twenty-two.

Mark Wheeller’s potent verbatim play uses the words from Catherine’s diaries and also of those most closely involved and affected. This 2020 edition includes a foreword by the late Maureen Dunbar, previously unseen extra scenes and a reflection by Mark on the astonishing journey of this widely studied play. Hard to Swallow by Mark Wheeller has been in production since its original publication, including a performance by OYT on the Olivier Stage of the Royal National Theatre. 

DURATION: 75 minutes approximately
CAST: 6 female, 3 male, 22 female/male, or 3 female and 2 male with doubling

TRIGGER WARNING: Hard to Swallow is a tragic play about Catherine Dunbar’s a seven-year battle with anorexia nervosa. There are mentions of disordered eating throughout.

Exploring the Text: the play provides opportunities for discussion around the subject matter, text, style of playwrighting and performance style.

Thinking Contextually:
Physicalisatoin and the use of music: the play gives opportunities to physicalise the script and use music to reflect emotion.
Monologues: a variety of narration, naturalistic dialogue, duologues and use of chorus provide various performance styles for all actors.

Design: the play requires a minimal, multi-location set.

Additional Learning Resources for Teachers:

• eduqas Teacher Guide (DRAMA) – free download
• DVD –The Romsey School Production, with extracts from the Oaklands Youth Theatre original production (1990), and interview with the playwright Mark Wheeller – £19.99
• YouTube – insight from playwright Mark Wheeller
• Drama & Theatre Teacher’s Guide

Reviews
‘This play reaches moments of almost unbearable intensity… naturalistic scenes flow seamlessly into sequences of highly stylised theatre… such potent theatre!’

Vera Lustig, The Independent

‘Elegantly structured, highly informative, and imaginatively theatrical. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.’
Anne McFerran, Stage and Television Today

‘a touching and informative play for tackling a challenging but highly relevant topic’
Rhianna Elsden, Drama and Theatre