Chatback Theatre’s If This Is Normal hits the road for UK tour

Chatback Theatre’s If This Is Normal is on a UK tour this Spring.

The coming-of-age hit will be on the road from 13 April to 3 May 2022 after critically acclaimed runs at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019 and VAULT Festival in 2020.

The show follows a trio of teenagers navigating the no-man’s land between childhood and adulthood, complicated by unfiltered access to technology and pop-feminism.

Making up the cast are Aoife Smyth as Alex (On Railton Road, Brixton Base; If I Can Get This Part Right At Least, Nottingham Playhouse), Isambard Rawbone as Madani (Midnight Hustle, Rogue Productions/ VAULT Festival, Hamlet and Sense and Sensibility, Aquila Theatre/ US Tour) and Zarima McDermott as Maryam (Beast on the Moon, Finborough Theatre, which earned her a “Best Lead Female Performance” nomination at the Off West End Awards 2019; It’s a London Life for Me, Greenwich Theatre; The Seagull, National Theatre, Dublin).

The piece is written by Lucy Danser (Lost in Thought, Edinburgh Fringe Festival /Theatre503 and Rachael’s Café, UK Tour) and directed by Helena Jackson (Resident Director of the repertory company Theater KR/MG and Offie-finalist La Traviata, King’s Head Theatre). The production is set design by Lorraine Terry, stage management by Lorraine Terry, dramaturgy by Mischa Ipp and sound design by Nicola Chang.

In If This Is Normal the characters make the transition from the relative ease of childhood to the complications of adulthood, their personalities and desires no longer quite as aligned over the course of a ten-year friendship.

Growing up in Kilburn, siblings Madani and Maryam plus schoolmate Alex hit it off from the moment they meet. 10 years later, playful chats about ninja turtles and bobble pens have been kicked out by teen opinions powered by podcasts, porn and politics.

Still, best friends can talk about anything. So why are there suddenly so many unspoken thoughts between the three?

For more information, tour dates and tickets visit www.chatbacktheatreandcomedy.com

Writer Lucy Danser commented: “After the pandemic forced us to stop the show more than two years ago it’s wonderful to be able to return with If This is Normal. It’s this type of small-scale, fringe theatre that I really missed. The opportunity to have an entertaining, moving and intimate experience with a group of strangers, live and in person!

“It is however somewhat sad that the themes in the play are even more relevant two years on. I’m excited to share the play and start some important conversations.

Director Helena Jackson added: “I´m thrilled to have the time and space to be able to further develop If This Is Normal creatively, and especially excited to share Maryam, Alex and Madani with audiences all around England. Directing Lucy´s writing has always been a complete and utter joy!”