Scorch

What is the play about?

It is a love story about a teenager, who is trying to find themselves and figure out what it is they truly want. We follow the character of Kes, a teenager who it obsessed with gaming online and falls for their fellow gamer and friend Jules who automatically assumes Kes is a guy because they portray themselves as one through their avatars and all round personality. Kes feels safe online because they can be whatever they want and not have to suffer the consequences.

This leads to them getting real close, messaging each other everyday for a good couple years which finally leads them to meeting up and even going so far as to make love.

Being Kes was born a female this leads to problems with the authorities when Jules’s mum who never liked Kes in the first place gets them involved after Jules found out her, “boyfriend,” lied to her.

Research

Stacey Gregg based the play around recent Gender Identity Fraud cases that happened within the UK. Mainly women who were deceived into thinking they were having a sexual relationship with a man.

The main one was 2014 where a young transgender man, Kyran Lee, received a two year suspended sentence after being convicted of sexual assault by penetration on the basis of “gender fraud.” It is clear that the trial wasn’t handled like it should have been and proves that even in the 20th century the LGBT community is still shunned by society and though now it has improved a lot there is still a long way to go before people can come out feeling confident, unafraid and stop fighting for their lives to live the happiest they possibly can.

Stacey Gregg’s exact words, “The great thing about writing is that you are free to write about anything to grapple with what’s happening in the world.” I inspire to be like Stacey and make good, interesting, fascinating content that pulls people in for the entertainment side but also give out a clear important message that makes people think about the consequences of their actions and how it could effect their as well as someone else day to day lives.

Her play won the “Fringe First,” Award at Edinburgh festival in 2016! It was originally meant to be on TV but Gregg reworked her script for the stage, performed it herself before handing it over to the Northan Irish company, “Prime Cut.” Directed by Emma Jordan, produced as part of the, “Outburst Queer Arts festival in Belfast and was performed by Amy McAllister in 2015.

People’s Opinions

The actor does nothing but delight.

The actor was able to carry off this important and misunderstood topic.

Love movement and body expression as well as the emotional aspect.

Incredible energy and power

Just the empathy that this generates for someone who is going through all this.

I want to be able to do all this within my performance and give people out there a chance to breath and relax knowing there are people out there going through the same circumstances! Send out a message to explain to those who don’t understand and give them a clear picture and a better understanding in order to improve our world!