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The Learning Curve

A play about breast health and breast awareness covering a range of issues

Availability:

Currently available for short tours. Please contact info@womenandtheatre.co.uk for more information

Introduction

No one’s perfect. Karen’s always had one bigger than the other, Ursula’s failed the ‘Breast is Best’ test, Sheena’s have always been like school custard – full of lumps! Three local women find themselves on a twisting, turning learning curve as they learn to value their vital statistics. Have a good laugh, have a good cry and prepare to be uplifted!

The Learning Curve is a story of three women during a day in their lives when they all have something on their minds. Karen, a young woman, is concerned about her body, and thinks one of her breasts is larger than the other. Asked to go on holiday by her friend, she is not sure whether to go because she is too self-conscious to wear a bikini. Sheena is 52 and has just received her first appointment for breast screening. She doesn’t know whether to go. Ursula is pregnant with her second child and is worried about breast feeding.

Over the course of their daily activities the women think back to times in their lives that have contributed to their fears. Later in the day the women meet up with friends and family and by confiding their concerns they find support and their feats are alleviated.

“I realised the importance of discussing your fears and worries with others – friends, family and professionals. Not to be frightened and embarrassed”
Audience member

The Learning Curve is a heartwarming play that takes a broad look at breast health and breast awareness from the perspective of three very different characters, making it ideal for women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and attitudes. The play touches on a range of issues, including:
• body image
• breast feeding
• breast cancer, particularly screening
• breast health
• myths and misconceptions
• the importance of talking, sharing and mutual support

The play contains some Punjabi dialogue so is therefore particularly suitable for Punjabi speaking audiences.

The play is accompanied by a facilitated post-show discussion, allowing audiences to engage with the issues raised, share their experiences and receive accurate information.

History

The Learning Curve was originally commissioned by the ‘Play Safe – be Breast Aware’ project, Dudley Health and the Breast Screening Service. It was developed from our award winning breast screening play Touch Wood to take a broader look at breast health awareness. The play was researched and produced by Women & Theatre with the active involvement of local women in Dudley. Women’s attitudes, beliefs and experiences of breast health were incorporated into the play, resulting in a piece that was both humorous and moving. In particular the play aimed to represent the diversity of women’s experience, especially younger and Asian women.

The Learning Curve has been performed in all kinds of venues, with community groups and health professionals, for groups with special needs, groups with signers and language support, major national conferences and women’s day events, including at:
• The Hilton Hotel, Sheffield
• Baptist Church Centre, Handsworth
• Paddington Arts Centre
• Training & Development Centre, Oldbury
• Crowley House Probation Hostel
• Local school including Hodge Hill and Swanshurt
• Sure Starts

Notes

A play about three different women – ages, backgrounds, experience – who have a great deal in common. We see their fears, their images of themselves, the positive changes that each is able to make. These women are very ‘real’, they are our friends, our mothers, our neighbours…. Ourselves.
The audience – as ever gives back as much, if not more, in the discussion that follows the performance.
Terina Talbot, W&T Associate Director

Outcome

Booker quotes
“W&T have definitely helped to raise awareness. Most of the women who attended had never had the opportunity to see a play which covered so many issues, not just screening, and from the discussions afterwards it proves it was thought provoking. I have received several calls from women after both performances asking for information and praising the play. Not only did you enable women to discuss breast issues it also enabled them to discuss other health related issues which they may have otherwise not bothered asking a GP for fear of wasting valuable consultation time. I wouldn’t hesitate to commission more plays.”
Amanda Grant, South Birmingham PCT

“It was excellent. There was plenty to discuss in the workshop, different approaches, non-naturalistic techniques and bi-lingual characters helped to make the play more interesting and accessible. It was inclusive in terms of actors and characters, representing good role-models for some of our pupils. Friendly company members able to answer questions in an open and honest way.”
Melanie Reid, Hodge Hill Girls School

Audience Comments
“It had a really good down to earth approach covering issues we can all relate to, it was nice to receive medical knowledge and information in such a positive way.”

“It is good to encourage people to open up about sensitive issues. Also the play is a powerful piece of art, even without the breast messages, and I appreciate being able to access it as I would never normally be in a position to go and see a play.”

“I learnt what a mammogram is and what age you get screening.”

“I have learnt how important it is to encourage and support each other.”

“I will definitely encourage my mum to go for breast screening.”

“It was very true to life! I will examine my breasts and not be embarrassed to talk about it.”

“I realised I wasn’t the only mother who couldn’t breast feed.”

“Really good. Like the humorous way the play was put across”

“I never bothered to do the screenings before, I thought you could only have cancer after a certain age, I now realise that is not true.”

Health Professionals
“I will take time to explore a woman/girls hesitancy and to listen.”

“I have learnt that as health professionals we can make a difference to another woman by giving the correct information and support.”

I found the play very realistic regarding what treatment a patient should expect. The unknown fear of what the patient experiences whilst waiting could be reduced if a patient had seen this play beforehand.

“After seeing this play, I will initiate conversation re breast awareness and make breast awareness a ‘live’ issue with my clients.”

Production Credits

Written & devised by: Janice Connolly, Alison Carney, Bharti Patel
Originally directed by: Theresa Heskins
Set design: Oliver Shapley

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