And now for something completely different.

Well it's been a while since we last shared any news and to be honest, it's all change round these parts... if you missed the exciting news here is is (screenshot for your reading ease).

And this week is when it all began... 

Our project has been funded by Stellar Quines “Make Mend Do” programme – which we’re so lucky to be a part of. We’re one of four funded projects who are responding to

How have the rights of women changed since 1918 and what does the future hold?

(If you want to read more about the other projects, check out Stellar Quines twitter page here)

Rosa and I have chosen to look women in medicine and particularly on the gendered experience of medicine, specifically when dealing with invisible illnesses and conditions. We’ve been talking about this show, or something like it, for months. This is because we have the same condition, which I’ve known about since I was three, and Rosa only found out recently. Both having Ehlors Danlos Syndrome (to find out all about that – check out this page) it seemed fitting that we made a show that explored, not only our own experience of medicine and healthcare, but spoke to a broader range of female experiences. Hopefully the piece will also shine some light on how healthcare and treatment could be improved.

To learn more about how other people view invisible illness and think about medicine, we launched our survey last week. The responses to that have been amazing. It’s so useful to get insight and information from all kinds of people, from those whose lists of conditions could fill a book, to people who can’t remember the last time they went to their GP.

This weekend we started looking at the play itself, putting some very early material in front of actors. Which (indulge me in a sidebar) is a complete shift in how I normally do things. Anyone who’s worked with me before (apologies Low) will know that I like to have a full 7th draft of a play before even going near a rehearsal room, where I will then whine in the corner because I’ve used “right” three times in four lines. I'm a delight to work with, I promise. Anyway, this was a totally new experience – but so useful! In practical, dramaturgical ways, but also in reassuring us that the experiences and problems we want to explore are understandable, relatable and, in some aspects, universal.

We've loads more planned for this week and we'll be keeping you all updated as we go!

Sweeney x