The fierce love of an older, interracial lesbian relationship and women coming together to fight for what’s right are at the heart of Wales Millennium Centre’s latest original production.
ES & FLO, a sharply observed new play by JENNIFER LUNN, will make its long-awaited premiere at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff from the 28th April. Since being delayed due to the pandemic, the script has picked up two coveted awards – the Popcorn Writing Award (2020) and the Nancy Dean Lesbian Playwriting Award (2022).
Es and Flo fell fiercely in love in the 80s. They’ve been secretly living as lovers ever since. As Es becomes more forgetful around their home, an unexpected carer arrives.
Who sent this woman? Why? Can they trust her?
As the outside world comes crashing in, Flo fights to protect the life they’ve built together over forty years behind closed doors. And faces the hardest battle of her life – to hold on to the woman she loves.
Leading the cast of five intergenerational female characters, who range in age from eight to 71, are DOREENE BLACKSTOCK (Netflix’s Sex Education, Sky’s The Colour Room) and LIZ CROWTHER (National Theatre’s Animal Farm). Joining them are MICHELLE MCTERNAN and ADRIANNA PAVLOVSKA, with the youngest role of Kasia shared between two young actors from Cardiff, REESIE DUPE and MIRELLA SICILIANO. The play is directed by SUSIE MCKENNA who leads an all-female creative team.
Writer Jennifer Lunn told us….
“My Grandmother lived with dementia for many years. As a family, we had to navigate the long, complex, unpredictable journey, constantly adjusting our own roles within it whilst holding on to our relationships with her – relationships which were still full of joy, humour, and love. I really wanted to honour the reality of the experience of people living with dementia and their family carers and to celebrate the incredible love and care at the heart of these lives.
Es & Flo is a story about secrets and family and the strength of women coming together – but above all it’s a story about love – which was the biggest gift my Grandmother gave me. She was an amazing woman and is absolutely in the DNA of this play, right down to her love of Jelly Babies and Jammie Dodgers. I hope it does her proud.”
The story is coloured with memories of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, with the feminist movement serving as a springboard for the main characters’ relationship, which first began when they met as activists in the 1980s.
Es & Flo is the latest in a run of Wales Millennium Centre Productions that nurture writers in and from Wales. Previous acclaimed productions have included Hamed Amiri’s The Boy with Two Hearts (2021) which recently transferred to the National Theatre in London; Connor Allen’s The Making of a Monster (2022); Llinos Mai’s Anthem (2022); and Kaite O’Reilly’s The Beauty Parade (2020).
Wales Millennium Centre Artistic Director Graeme Farrow told us….
“I’m delighted that this brilliant script by Jennifer Lunn will be coming to life on stage this year, after being delayed due to the pandemic. It’s a wonderful love story that tackles themes including dementia, family, sexuality, and dark secrets. We’re very proud to have assembled such a great all female cast and creative team – including brilliant Welsh talent including our two new young actors who will play the part of Kasia.”
ES & FLO premieres at Wales Millennium Centre’s Weston Studio on Friday 28th April running through to Saturday 13th May. Performances are at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on the Saturday. Just be aware that performances from 28th April – 2nd May start at an earlier time of 7pm
Tickets are £15 each but for the previews Friday 28th, Saturday 29th April and Monday 1st may, they are £10 each. The show has a running time of around 90 minutes with no interval. For more details, and to get tickets, go HERE.
Es & Flo has an age guidance of 12+ with a warning of strong language; flashing lights; adult themes including dementia and marital abuse.
