When performance artist Bryony Kimmings was approached by Complicité to create a new show, the invitation came from producer Judith Dimant – who had just received a cancer diagnosis. Never one to shy away from creating art from life, Bryony asked Judith if she wanted to make a production about cancer. What followed was A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer, a baptism of fire, and an unexpected journey into the ‘Kingdom of the Sick’ – following patients, meeting doctors and learning from world experts. What Bryony didn’t know is how far into the Kingdom she would fall.
First seen in 2016 at HOME, Manchester, Exeter Northcott and the National Theatre, the production will be revived and re-worked for UK and Australian touring in 2018. Kirsty Housley, Co-Director of The Encounter and long-term Complicité collaborator will direct, with writer Bryony Kimmings performing in the production.
A Pacifist’s Guide… will blow everything you think you know about cancer out of the water. This funny and moving show will look behind the poster campaigns and pink ribbons at the reality of cancer: newfound friendships, pain and death, mundane treatment cycles, hairlessness and scars…with songs.
Bryony Kimmings said “This musical began as a seed in 2014. So much has happened since its inception. A four year labour of love. It begins with Judith the producer of Complicité having breast cancer, it moves through two years following beautiful patients, me having a baby, Judith going into remission, some deaths and some huge life changes. All the time writing music! I wasn’t able to be in the original production for tragic personal reasons so I am over the moon that I am able to step into it for this tour. We are thrilled to have had the time to reimagine and develop the musical since its first incarnation at the National Theatre, which we can’t wait to share with audiences across the UK and Australia.”
A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer, Complicité’s collaboration with performance artist Bryony Kimmings will embark on a UK tour to Liverpool Playhouse, Northern Stage Newcastle and the Belgrade Theatre Coventry before touring to Australia.
