Lynn Faces, the chaotic punk band response to coercive control returns to New Diorama after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it won the Birds of Paradise Exceptional Theatre Award, as the London leg of a national tour.
Nearing 40, painfully shy, and emerging from a toxic break-up, Leah forms a punk band inspired by the Alan Partridge character Lynn Benfield, and takes to the stage despite her lack of musical ability. Will this gig push Leah further over the edge, or help her regain her confidence and find the hope she needs to move on?
Lynn Faces is a funny, farcical and poignant new play, exploring the impact of abusive behaviour, the power of friendship and how silliness can be healing.
Speaking about the production, Laura Horton says: I’m delighted to be returning to New Diorama Theatre with Lynn Faces. I’ve put so much of myself into this production, from the seed of a small, weird idea to this production, with the most wonderful creative team. Finding hope in the face of adversity, feels like a prescient theme.
Laura Horton is a multi-award-winning writer and Plymouth Laureate of Words 2021-23, the first woman and playwright in the role. Her debut play Labyrinth Diet was an OFFCOMM winner in 2021. Her follow-up Breathless was awarded the Pleasance Regional Partnership. It won a Fringe First, was a finalist for the Popcorn Award. The show enjoyed runs at Soho Theatre and in New York as part of Brits Off Broadway in 2023. She has written several short plays. An associate of The Space, Laura launched digital projects Hidden by Things and Theatre Stories, for which she was in The Stage100. Laura also runs Bad Sex Writing workshops and shows. Lynn Faces premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Summerhall to critical acclaim and received the Birds of Paradise Exceptional Theatre Award.
