When We Died
He’s dead, and it’s her job to prepare and present his body for his family’s final goodbye. She often imagines what each person’s life was like. But today she doesn’t have to imagine who he is. She knows him.
Faced with the body of the man who raped her eleven months ago, When We Died is a striking new play about one woman’s choice to confront her trauma and tell her story, on her terms.
A story about overcoming trauma, choice and ownership of narrative.
PRESS & AWARDS
WINNER: Best Script, Stagey Place Awards 2023.
NOMINATED: The Filipa Bragança Award 2023.
"Donnachie is really terrific - her body turning and twisting, bending and swaying ... It’s quietly hold-your-breath gripping". Lyn Gardner for Stagedoor.
★★★★★ West End Best Friend
★★★★★ Lost in Theatreland
★★★★★ Fringe Biscuit
★★★★ London Theatre 1
★★★★ The Reviews Hub
★★★★ Spy in the Stalls
★★★★ North West End
★★★★ Within Her Words
★★★★ Act Drop
★★★★ London Theatre Reviews
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ The Scotsman
★★★★ The Indiependent
★★★★ The Wee Review
★★★★ The Student
★★★★ Everything Theatre
★★★★ Broadway World UK
★★★★ All That Dazzles
★★★★ Varsity
Please click the button below or scroll down to find out more helplines & support services:
More about the play:
This 2023 Spring tour is supported using public funding from the National Lottery by Arts Council England.
An early version of the play was longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2017. Extracts have been presented as work-in-progress for PILOT Nights (Midlands Arts Centre, 2019) and China Plate’s First Bite Festival (Midlands Arts Centre, 2019). When We Died premiered at VAULT Festival 2020 after further development supported by Pleasance Theatre’s LABS residency, the University of Northampton and the Travers Foundation.
The film of When We Died was support using public funding from the National Lottery by Arts Council England. With special thanks to Pleasance Theatre, China Plate, PILOT Nights, Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, VAULT Festival, Sutton Women’s Centre, Travers Foundation, University of Northampton, Serenity Northampton SARC and to each and every person who donated to our Crowdfunder.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer | Alexandra Donnachie
Director | Andy Routledge
Movement & Intimacy Director | Christina Fulcher
Production Designer | Froud
Sound Designer & Composer | Curtis Arnold-Harmer
Producer | Courtenay Johnson for Carbon Theatre
Assistant Producer 2020 | Beth Smiles
Assistant Movement & Intimacy Director 2021 | Sarah Shear (RCSSD)
Touring Stage Manager 2023 | Leonora Nicholson
Production Manager 2023 | Fiona Scott Lockyer
Film 2021 | Eight Engines
Photography | Ali Wright
QUOTES
"Donnachie is really terrific... It’s quietly hold-your-breath gripping" Lyn Gardner for Stagedoor.
“Absorbing one-woman show that fuses physical theatre with a strong, gut-punching narrative” The Stage
“Both the violence and care directed towards other people’s bodies is juxtaposed in a way that is striking, a genuinely original premise in a stunning [...] script that reveals the trauma behind a life shattered, but one that also finds strength and a way to continue through the shards.” The Sctosman
“Donnachie's performance is simply wonderful… An extraordinarily beautiful piece of writing.” West End Best Friend
“When We Died is a powerful and heart-wrenching story that is executed flawlessly.” Lost in Theatreland
“The show navigates its emotionally complex premise with plenty of grace and precision.” Varsity
“Donnachie's performance is captivating... Her writing is equally vibrant with empathy” Broadway World UK
“Donnachie gives an incredibly powerful performance … Her script is both incredibly intense and yet surprisingly funny” The Indiependent
“Donnachie's performance perfectly places the horrifying content of their writing while retaining the intimate connection and complete attention of the captivated audience.” London Theatre Reviews
“It is testament to the talent of Donnachie and the strength of the ending that we don’t leave feeling void of hope. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.“ All That Dazzles.
“this thoughtful production tackles some pertinent topics firmly but also delicately.” London Theatre 1
“The script itself is fabulous. It deftly navigates difficult topics with both sensitivity and exquisite detail – no mean feat given the subjects involved. The show is both written and performed by Alexandra Donnachie, and her performance is as excellent as her writing.” The Reviews Hub
“a gripping play that deals sensitively with a difficult topic.” Spy in the Stalls
“every element of this show has clearly been carefully considered from an audiences’ perspective and the result is a really powerful, enjoyable and absorbing piece of theatre.” North West End
“The piece is delivered delicately and poignantly” Within Her Words
“poignantly affecting, well-written and well-judged monologue that treats a disturbing central issue with painstaking sensitivity yet leaving us with a semblance of hope. Highly recommended.” Act Drop
Creative Team
Alexandra Donnachie is an award-winning writer-performer. Her work includes: twenty-eight (DEM Productions, dir. Jessica Lazar: Theatre 503); When We Died (Carbon Theatre, dir. Andy Routledge: Vaults Festival 2020, EdFringe Online 2021, Bruntwood Prize longlisted); 3 Years, 1 Week and a Lemon Drizzle (UK Tour, EdFringe 2018).
Alex appeared in Suffragettes with Lucy Worsley (BBC One/Book Lapping Productions) which went on to win a BAFTA. She’s also appeared in numerous Big Finish and Audible audio dramas and plays a series regular in the Dark Shadows series. An episode she wrote for Series 3 is due for release this year.
Andy Routledge is a theatre director and dramaturg. His directing credits include SWIM (Theatre by the Lake and South-West Tour), 60 Miles by Road or Rail (Royal & Derngate), When We Died (Vaults Festival) and Ventoux (Curve, Summerhall and National Tour). In 2022 he was shortlisted for the RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award. He was previously the trainee director at Royal Exchange. He studied MFA Theatre Directing at Birkbeck.
Andy is the artistic director of 60 Miles by Road or Rail - an arts, heritage and community initiative in his hometown of Northampton. You can find out more at www.andyroutledge.com
Christina Fulcher is a movement director, lecturer and researcher working nationally and internationally across theatre, opera, and new writing. Christina is an intimacy practitioner under mentorship with Ita O’Brien of Intimacy On Set. She holds a BA in Dance and Communication from University of California Santa Barbara. She then obtained her California Teaching Credentials at San Diego State University. Then further training with MFA in Movement Directing & Teaching from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She is a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire, LAMDA, and The BRIT School where she teaches intimacy practice, dance and actor movement. Visit her website | @FulcherMovement
Froud is an an artist, designer and performer, whose practice ranges from sound design and digital art direction, solo performance work, visual art, and creating experimental technologies in performance.
Froud often advises on projects, both technically & artistically, facilitates workshops and guest speaks. He regularly collaborates on projects with other artists and companies from multiple disciplines. He also works nationally and internationally as a stage, production & technical manager. Froud is also an associate lecturer at Rose Bruford College, and the University of Chichester.
Curtis Arnold-Harmer, know as ‘ISAC CURTIS’, is a multi-disciplinary artist and performer frequently working across the fields of music production and spoken word. focusing on patriotism, status and migration, his work deconstructs music and uses the power of the spoken language to begin conversations and stage interventions in the minds of his audience. Curtis also works as a stage manager and technician both on a national and international level.
Curtis has worked with artists across many disciplines including Abigail Conway, Robert Daniels (Bootworks Theatre), Brian Lobel, Froud, Vince Kidd, Lynn Ruth Miller.
Dr. Julia Langley is Theatrical Trauma Specialist, Actor-Musician, and Forensic Psychologist who has worked with vulnerable children and adults for 10 years. She supports individuals and groups working in theatre around boundaries, self-care, trauma, and tackling difficult topics for creative teams and audiences. She also has expertise in offending, mental health, personality disorders, substance misuse, and Attachment theory. She is proficient in psychological assessment, evaluation and research, and has therapeutic training in humanistic counselling, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive analytical therapy. Her research interests include victims’ decision making in reporting sexual violence to the police.
HELPLINES & SUPPORT
NATIONAL
NHS | Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
Information about what is sexual assault, what to do if you have been sexually assaulted (or supporting someone who has) and how to find your nearest SARC.
Rape Crisis
Rape Crisis is for those who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or any kind of sexual violence. Information about finding your nearest Crisis Centre and their services.
National Helpline: 0808 802 9999 (12:00 - 14:30 and 19:00 - 21:30 daily)
Solace Women’s Aid
Solace Women’s Aid offers free advice and support to women and children in London to build safe and strong lives. Futures free from abuse and violence.
Supportline: 0808 802 5565 (for free and confidential advice and support for women in London affected by abuse)
Victim Support
An independent charity delivering tailored support to help people recover from the effects of crime and traumatic events.
Supportline: 0808 16 89 111 (24/7, every day of the year, including Christmas)
The Survivors Trust
Collection of member organisations (129) based in the UK & Ireland which provide specialist support for women, men & children who have survived rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse. Find information about how to access support, advice, resources and information and local service centres. Helpline available Monday to Friday day times.
Refuge
24 hour National Abuse Helpline
0808 2000 247 (Main Line)
Live chat function: Monday-Friday from 3pm till 10pm
Latin American Women’s Rights Service
0808 145 4909
Email: info@lawrs.org.uk
Womens Aid
Offer a forum and live chat through their website
National LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
0800 999 5428
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
0808 200 0247
Victim Support
0808 168 9291
Men’s Advice Line
0808 801 0327
Modern Slavery
08000 121 700
SUTTON
Sutton Women's Centre
020 8661 1991
Transform
020 8092 7569
transformsutton@cranstoun.org.uk
Not Alone in Sutton
Rape Crisis South London
0808 802 9999