Award-winning theatre company Wildcard bring their gig theatre hit, Electrolyte, to Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre next month as part of the company’s first tour, which sees them take in 32 venues across the UK and Ireland.

The tour follows their award-winning run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, where the show scooped both the Mental Health Fringe Award and the Pleasance Best Newcomer Award.

Directed by Olivier Award-winning director Donnacadh O’Briain, Electrolyte tells the story of Jessie from Leeds. The show is written in entirely spoken word poetry and is underscored throughout by six actor-musicians. Jessie is dealing with the recent suicide of her father. She meets singer-songwriter Allie Touch, who is pursuing her music career in London. Allie's outlook inspires Jessie, who feels intensely oppressed by her life in Leeds. Impulsively, she follows Allie to London in pursuit of her mother, who left when she was young.

However, when she arrives in London things aren't quite as shiny as they seemed and the answers she seeks are buried deeper than she could ever have imagined.

The show is written by James Meteyard with music composed by Maimuna Memon. The cast comprises Megan Ashley, Chris Georgiou, James Meteyard, Ben Simon, Robyn Sinclair and Olivia Sweeney.

James Meteyard says: “We’re thrilled to be coming to Scarborough. When we founded the company in 2015 we had big dreams of taking our work to the regions and we’re beside ourselves that these dreams are becoming a reality. Mental health is rightfully becoming something which is acceptable to talk about, and we’re delighted to be part of the conversation. This show deals with tough subjects but has an uplifting message; we want to help people around the UK and Ireland to know that it’s okay not to be okay and promote the importance of community in combating poor mental health.’

The show was seen at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival in May. Director Andrew Eaton-Lewis, Arts Lead for the Mental Health Foundation, says: “We're very pleased to be presenting Electrolyte for a week of dates at this year's Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. This is the second year that we've invited the winner of the Mental Health Fringe Award at the Edinburgh Fringe to return to Scotland for our nationwide festival, which is now in its 13th year. Electrolyte was a clear favourite among our panel of award judges; it's an exhilarating, inspirational show that tackles a very difficult subject with great sensitivity. We are also supporting Electrolyte's other tour dates across the UK, and are delighted that they will be helping to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation in its 70th anniversary year.’

Electrolyte can be seen in the Round at the SJT at 7.30pm on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 June. Tickets are priced from £10, and can be booked at the box office on 01723 370541 or via the website: www.sjt.uk.com

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