HEARTTIME
Hester is determined to live her last days to the full even if it kills her…
‘No family, no husband, no hope of recovery, no religion– I’m a prime candidate for a one way trip to Switzerland and yet much as it amazes you – I’m FINE thankyou!’
Time is up for the vivacious Hester Brooke- celebrated cellist, wild woman, lover, mistress, friend, recluse; she’s lived her life on her terms, and with a cancerous death sentence looming she is raising a glass of Rioja to her fate with no regrets she cares to remember.
But Hester discovers that life has yet more surprises in store for her and on top of everything else she is saddled with Sara - an enduringly adolescent assistant social worker obsessed with death and social media. Deep and muddy waters are stirred between them and far from peacefully drifting off...Hester finds her cello has ideas of its own.
A sparkling and spiky black comedy with a mix of live music and projection - HeartTime explores the tragic and darkly funny world of a life unraveling.
If you could leave the world your very last words... what would you say?
BRIGIT FORSYTH and her real life daughter ZOE MILLS, star in this hilarious new irreverent comedy featuring live cello music, multimedia and bottles upon bottles of rioja.
Company Biographies
Brigit Forsyth – performer
Brigit has been an actress for over 50 years.
She trained at RADA where she won the Emile Littler prize and has toured theatres internationally and nationally, including Londons West End where she played Dusa in Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi the Pam Gems hit play, and Mare in Calendar Girls. She has toured with The National in Alan Bennett’s play People and most recently enjoyed working at the Arcola on Now This is Not The End.
Brigit has a considerable television CV, and is best remembered for Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? In which she played Thelma. She can currently be seen in Still Open All Hours in which she plays Madge, soon to be appearing in Holby City and the new drama The Rovers for Sky.
She is also a musician, composes for the cello and sings with a band of actors called The Fircones. Brigit has done countless radio plays.
Zoe Mills – performer
Zoe trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Her work in theatre includes The Drowned Man for PUNCHDRUNK/ The National Theatre, Lost Lending Library for Punchdrunk, Hweol for LASTheatre, Great Expectations, Dry Rot and Bedroom Farce for Theatre By The Lake, Brazil and Back to the Future for Secret Cinema; Effie's Burning at Soho Theatre; Everwake at Chapter Arts, Cardiff; La Petit Mort for Les Infant Terribles; Fly on the Wall for Citrus Arts.
She has also helped to develop and created work with numerous companies including Punchdrunk, Hope Theatre Company, Fabler Theatre Company, Waking Exploits, Elan/Frantoio and Baz productions.
Antony Eden – DIRECTOR
Antony has had a career in theatre spanning 27 years, since he was 9 years old. As an actor, he has worked in regional theatre, toured nationally and internationally, as well as working in the West End in shows such as WOMAN IN BLACK and LES MISERABLES.
As co-founder of his company DEAD LETTER PERFECT, he most recently directed and produced THE GATHERED LEAVES by Andrew Keatley at PARK theatre, starring Jane Asher and Clive Francis. He is also now associate director on THE WOMAN IN BLACK at the Fortune theatre.
When not acting, Antony has pursued directing. His credits include: -
As Assistant Director: Vanity Fair, Trumpets And Raspberries (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, dir. Tony Cowney)
As Director:
The Gathered Leaves (Park Theatre); Effie’s Burning (Soho Theatre); Sweeney Todd, Kiss of the Spiderwoman (C venues, Edinburgh fringe); Sweet Charity (Bloomsbury Theatre); The Vice, State of Affairs (The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks)