Black Tern Arts

The idea behind FALLEN BODIES dates back to Autumn 2020, and the final year of my undergraduate course at Aberystwyth University. During a Playwriting module, there was a session by a guest lecturer on magic realism, and one of our writing exercises was to input various high-concept ideas at random into a Microsoft Teams chat. I can’t remember the exact wording of the prompt that I contributed, but it was something along the lines of ‘The Creation, as in Genesis - but Adam and Eve are disabled’. I then remember thinking that I hoped nobody else had spotted it, because that might be something good to write one day!

Fast forward to Summer 2024, and I’m being encouraged by another writer/performer to create a solo show. I remembered the core concept of the Genesis idea and wondered if it could be adapted to suit this form. Instantly, there were some creative issues. I was very keen for Eve to be as strong a presence in the narrative as Adam, if not more so, but felt that it was not my place to perform her. After some helpful creative nudging towards a narrator figure, I then thought I might as well go the whole hog and be God! Instantly, the whole piece became twice as interesting. Not only was I discussing the place of ‘imperfect’ humans in a perfect world but now God Himself had limitations and was creating ‘perfection in His own image‘. Writing with the voice of God comes with its pressures. A useful early note I had from my script consultant (a practising Methodist) was: ‘Make it funny.’ Again, the possibilities opened up in front of me…

While I was writing, I had two emotional keynotes.  Firstly, to keep the humour but never let the tone become cynical or disingenuous, even if God appears like that at times. Secondly, it should confront and have moments of righteous anger, but that shouldn’t become monotonous so the audience switches off. It was also important on a technical level to not allow Oliver and God to become one being, something which fellow Tern and the piece’s director, Shannon Black, has been very effective in curbing. One of Shannon’s other major creative inputs has been lightly suggesting a version of God with issues around alcohol. There will be audience members who see this as sacrilegious but what we’re trying to present is a God who feels the weight and burden physically and mentally of enacting creation, as well as joy and pride. The reality of being the Creator is at the heart of this piece.

For me personally, it’s a chance to indirectly explore my complicated relationship with my faith, (I still identify as a Christian, just about) and my disabilities. Being a Christian comes with increasingly loaded connotations and it’s becoming more and more difficult to separate one’s identity from a lot of very problematic views. At the same time, in different ways, life as a disabled person is fraught with growing complexity, and our visibility is becoming increasingly important.  FALLEN BODIES is an attempt to engage with these issues in a fun and authentic way. It should be as rewarding a watch as it was to create!