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ABOUT THE PLAY

Tortive Theatre is delighted to present the UK premiere of Cecelia Marshall's hard-hitting and darkly comedic play, Cringe Effect. 

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Cringe Effect opens in the Portland Anorexia Rehabilitation Centre, where Ce, a woman who has battled anorexia for years, confides candidly in the audience. Having reached a desperate point in her struggle, she checks into the centre for treatment. The narrative unfolds, introducing fellow patients and Gabby, the nutritionist, shedding light on Ce's rehabilitation journey with therapist Yara.

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As Ce shares her origin story, we meet her as Cece, a little girl with low self-esteem striving to meet societal expectations. Sammy, Cece's whistleblowing childhood friend, and well-intentioned parents contribute to Cece's evolution into Ce, the anorexic, embodied by a destructive alter ego, "The Bitch." We witness two near-death experiences that shape Ce's tumultuous journey.

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The play navigates Ce's transformation from denial to acceptance, offering a courageous and hauntingly beautiful portrayal of human frailty and resilience. The narrative critiques society's obsession with perfection, weaving a complex story with a sleek set design that brings the engaging honesty to the forefront.

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Cringe Effect masterfully combines humour and confrontation, providing an uncomfortable yet compelling glimpse into a woman's journey through hell and back.

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Ultimately, the play offers a brutal and unforgiving portrait of the poignant victory of human courage over crippling vulnerability.

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The production premiered to sell-out audiences at the Mut! Theatre in Hamburg, Germany in 2022. 

CAST, CREATIVES AND CREW

PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
 
Writer
Cecelia Marshall

Director
Mathilde Berry


UK Producer
Ben Humphrey for Tortive Theatre

CAST 
 
Ce

Cecelia Marshall

PRODUCTION SUPPORTERS 
 

Cecelia Marshall

Ce / Writer

Mathilde Berry

Director

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

This production will be presenting its UK Premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe

2nd - 17th August 2024

theSpace @ Niddry Street, Upper Theatre 

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For a full list of performance dates please visit our What's On section.

DIGITAL PROGRAMME DOWNLOAD

In an attempt to reduce the environmental impact of our work we are now producing digital programmes for our productions. 

Our digital programmes are free to download and keep.

WHEN THE PROGRAMME IS AVAILABLE
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

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