The Soaking of
Vera Shrimp
The Soaking of Vera Shrimp
by Alison Carr
Holden Street Theatres, Adelaide Fringe 2026
VERA SHRIMP- Martha Walker
Directed by Alex Howarth
Producer: Patch of Blue in association with Verse Unbound and Joanne Hartstone Presents
Lighting and tech design: George Cort
Costume Designer: Alice McNicholas
Social Media and Graphic Design: Helen Chong
‘I can feel the rain. The colours, the sensations, the words inside each drop when they land on my skin and seep inside me, so that means that everything is different now, and I can make things alright again.’
During an almighty rainstorm, Vera Shrimp discovers she has a remarkable gift. She can read raindrops, each one having soaked up an emotion from those the water has come into contact with. But as her family disintegrates, Vera’s extraordinary ability takes on a darker and more urgent significance. Part science lesson, part story-telling, this is a poignant and playful solo-show about love, grief and never giving up.
‘The Soaking of Vera Shrimp’ was critically acclaimed during its first run at the Edinburgh Fringe. This revival production ten years later will mark its international premiere and precedes a national tour in China. “The Soaking of Vera Shrimp” Adelaide run is commissioned by Archimedes Theatre Project, China.
MARTHA WALKER- VERA SHRIMP
Martha trained at Italia Conti. Her credits for Patch of Blue include Kit in CASSIE AND THE LIGHTS (Southwark Playhouse London and Theatre Royal Plymouth) and Sophie in their upcoming YOU AND ME (AND WHOEVER COMES NEXT). Martha recently played Dorothy in THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (Redbridge Drama Centre) and Wendy in PETER PAN (Guildford Fringe). Her credits in training include Tobias in SWEENEY TODD. She can currently be seen in a Suzuki E Vitara advert.
Alison Carr- Writer
Alison has written commissions for the National Theatre, Paines Plough, Traverse Theatre, and Live Theatre. She is a two-time North East Culture Award winner, and a Finalist for the Theatre503 Playwriting Award and the Women’s Prize for Playwriting. Her work has been performed on stages and non-traditional theatre spaces across the UK and around the world including America, Canada, India and Australia. She is part of the BBC Writers Group ‘North East Voices’, and in 2023 was made a member of BAFTA Connect. Her short film Doppelganger is part of BBC Three's 'Long Story Short' series.
Alex Howarth- Director
Alex is an award winning theatre director and writer based in London. He was named one of 'Ten Stage Sensations to Watch Out For' by The Guardian. Coming from the North West and a background of working in care, Alex is passionate about amplifying under-represented and northern voices. He is the first director in history to have his work performed at the United Nations and recently directed original musical LIFELINE at Signature Theatre Off-Broadway. WE LIVE BY THE SEA received Critic’s Pick and Top Theatre of the Year in The New York Times, won the Best Theatre Award and the weekly Critic’s Choice Award at Adelaide Fringe, and the Grahame F. Smith Peace Foundation Award for promoting human rights through theatre, and was nominated for the Fringe First and two Off-West-End Awards.
Joanne Hartstone- Producer
Joanne is a South Australian theatre maker, actor and performer, playwright, director, producer and presenter, specialising in international theatrical collaborations, live theatre & cabaret, and immersive/site-specific events. Joanne has been presenting work in the Adelaide Fringe since 2006. She won the inaugural Made In Adelaide award, the Frank Ford award, Holden Street Theatres award, multiple best theatre, best event and Critics Circle awards, and two innovation awards for her theatre streaming platform Black Box Live™. Joanne is also a mentor to emerging artists, performers and playwrights.
Verse Unbound- Producer
Verse Unbound is a London based production and project management company for theatre. They regularly collaborate with Patch of Blue and were co-producers on CASSIE AND THE LIGHTS at Southwark Playhouse London, 59E59 Theaters New York and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as well as its first ever scratch performance at the International Theatre Academy Awards in China. They were also the lead producers on the China tour of Patch of Blue’s acclaimed WE LIVE BY THE SEA.
Cassie and the Lights
Images from Southwark Playhouse 2024 © Claire Bilyard
Cassie and the Lights
by Alex Howarth
VAULT and Adelaide Festivals 2020
Big Belly, Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe 2022
Brits Off Broadway, New York, 13th June- 2nd July 2023
Southwark Playhouse, London, 3rd-20th April 2024 & Theatre Royal Plymouth 24th-27th April 2024
Written an directed by Alex Howarth
Producer: 3 Hearts Canvas in association with Verse Unbound and Southwark Playhouse
Live score composed by Ellie and Imogen Mason
Set Designer: Ruth Badila
Southwark Playhouse Lighting Design: Will Monks
Lighting and Video Design: Rachel Sampley
Originally produced at VAULT and Adelaide Festivals by Sam Brain and Zoe Weldon
Stage Manager: Lauren Cross
Images: Claire Bilyard
PR: Kate Morley PR
CASSIE- Alex Brain
TIN- Helen Chong
KIT- Emily McGlynn
SUPER SWING- Martha Walker
MUSICIAN- Ellie / Imogen Mason
Can kids be parents? When Cassie's mother disappears, the teen wants to care for her younger sisters on her own. But is Cassie the right person to be a parent now, or should she let her foster parents adopt her sisters and create a new family? Based on real life events and interviews with children in care, Cassie and the Lights examines our ideas of what makes a family, and celebrates the incredible determination and resilience of teenagers.
Cassie and the Lights returned to London 3rd-20th April 2024 at Southwark Playhouse before transferring to the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
CRITIC'S BEST SHOWS OF EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022- The Stage
WINNER- Best Theatre Week 2, Adelaide Fringe
WINNER- Excellent Play Award, Central Academy Awards, China
NOMINATED- The Popcorn Award for New Writing, in association with the BBC Writers' Room
NOMINATED- The SitupAward for social change
★★★★- 'glows in the darkness.. a thoughtful, warm, moving hour that will leave you wanting to call whoever you think of as family'- The Guardian
★★★★- 'bursts with life and quirkily observed truths, and it's guaranteed to break your heart'- Lyn Gardner, The Stage
★★★★- 'simply phenomenal'- New York Stage Review
★★★★★ ‘the future is bright for this illuminating masterpiece’ - All That Dazzles
★★★★★ ‘a shot to the heart’- Broadway World
★★★★★ ‘a heart-breaking story, guaranteed to bowl you over’ - Theatre Weekly
★★★★★ ‘Alex Howarth’s unmissable work may only be 70 minutes long, but it remains in your heart for far longer’ - The Reviews Hub
★★★★★ ‘Cassie and the Lights is, to put it simply, perfect theatre.’ - Theatre & Tonic
★★★★★ ‘a beautifully moving piece of theatre that asks the hard questions’ -Adventures in Theatreland
★★★★★- 'authentic and heartwarming'- Theatre Life
★★★★★- 'charming and joyful... a uniquely beautiful show, and one I will not forget'- Lost In Theatreland
★★★★★ - ''something quite extraordinary' - Creative Reviews UK
★★★★★ - 'subtly captures the injustice... you may need tissues' - The Adelaide Advertiser
★★★★★ - 'delicately simple and wrenchingly complex...it is unmissable' - Adelaide Theatre Guide
★★★★★ - Glam Adelaide
★★★★★ - 'flawless...unlike anything you've ever seen' - Radelaide
★★★★★ - 'phenomenal, outstanding theatre... landing every wrenching blow, then picking us up with each wonderful moment' - Stage Whispers
★★★★★- UK Theatre Web
★★★★★ ‘broke my heart’ - My Borderline Life
★★★★ - The Arts Desk
★★★★ - London Pub Theatres
★★★★- The List
★★★★- Edinburgh Guide
★★★★- The Wee Review
★★★★- London Theatre 1
★★★★- Mickey Jo Theatre
★★★★ - ThreeDRadio
★★★★ - InDaily
