Women & Theatre

Touch Wood

A play to encourage the uptake of breast screening

Availability:

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

Introduction

Sheila is 52, overworked with no time for herself – She gets an appointment to attend the mobile breast screening unit…..Will she go? Brenda, Noreen, Pauline her hairdresser and the girl in the Wonderbra advert help her make up her mind!

Award-winning play Touch Wood is the humorous and touching story of Sheila, an ordinary woman, a factory worker, wife and mother, who receives an invitation to attend breast screening for the first time. The invitation generates questions and worries for her about the screening itself and the possibility of cancer being found. These worries are fuelled by rumours she’s heard about the “embarrassing and painful” screening process and myths about the causes of breast cancer. In addition Sheila is currently going through the menopause and is feeling unconfident about herself. Through conversations with a fellow factory worker, who dispels the myths Sheila has heard, a fantasy character, the Wonderbra woman, who reassures her about her looks, and her daughter, who encourages Sheila to think about spending money on herself, the problems are put aside. Sheila comes to see the screening as a positive and self-nurturing step. “Touch Wood” she says before she goes to the screening that does prove clear.

Touch Wood was first developed to increase the uptake of breast screening in the over 50 age group and to:
• give a strong cue to action
• promote awareness about what screening actually involves
• increase self esteem and encourage women to prioritise their own needs
• break down fears generated by horror stories and myths
• be funny, moving and positive

The play is accompanied by a facilitated post-show discussion, for audiences to share their experiences and receive accurate information.

History

Touch Wood was originally commissioned by Walsall Health and Walsall Community Arts to increase the uptake of breast screening in Walsall.

The play was developed through in-depth research with local women and heath professionals. Over the years it has been performed nationally in all kinds of venues to community groups and health professionals, to groups with signers and language support and it has been included in major national conferences and after dinner events. Although it was initially aimed mainly at over 50s women, the funny and accessible nature of Touch Wood has made it a popular play with young and mixed audiences.

The drama challenges and explores the subject of breast health within a safe and uplifting environment, showing common fears and misconceptions around breast health and screening in particular. The after show discussion is very important as it gives a chance for women to share stories and strategies and for health facts and information to be passed on by the cast and an attending health professional.
Touch Wood is a winner of the Healthy Alliance Award for Cancer Prevention and remains one of Women & Theatre’s most popular health education and entertainment shows.

Notes

I love performing the part of Sheila in Touch Wood! She is funny and moving and when I first read some of the things she says, I laughed out loud…..that feeling of enjoyment has simply continued.

The last time I recall performing Touch Wood was in the wonderful Bloxwich Theatre with a fantastic audience of local women who had been invited to a whole day’s health awareness event – Touch Wood was part of that event. The play explores breast screening and women’s fears around this. Many women in the audience had experienced the screening programme or had an ongoing relationship to it – some had experienced breast cancer and mastectomy.

These real – life experiences are very moving but because women agree to share them in this way with others they become life – affirming and very positive.
Those things that are said & those women really stay with me.
Terina Talbot, W&T Associate Director

Outcome

Booker quotes
‘It was a superb performance, with something in it for everybody – delightful humour and also sensitive treatment of a very serious subject.’
Marian Mann, Regional Women’s Officer, Unison South West

“Play content was pitched right so the audience could understand the issues and the length of play was also sufficient to keep audience engaged. It was just brilliant! Moving, appropriate humour with a serious message underneath. The performers were also very approachable which helped the audience to relax.”
Booker

“I liked the informal, relaxed approach of the discussion which was very suitable for a community based audience. This encouraged members to have the confidence to express their opinions, which were listened to with respect and sensitivity, as some of our audience members had been or were going through breast cancer treatment. Very good.”
Booker

Audience Quotes

“All my questions were answered. Sometimes you think you are the only one with these worries, but you are not, we are all the same and it felt good to know this”

“A thoroughly enjoyable play told so funnily that we can all relate to it. Extremely well presented and touching.”

“I have enjoyed the everyday reality with a ‘normal’ person’s perception of breast screening – well done!”

“Really effective – humorous but struck the right note. Many thanks.”

“It was a great way to get past people’s fears”

“Excellent – humorous and to the point – really struck a chord! The portrayal of a mammogram was spot on!”

“Very enjoyable. Not only informative but with a sense of humour – true to life and down to earth. I think people remember things like this.”

Production Credits

Researched by Ali Henry and Janice Connolly
Devised by Ali Henry, Janice Connolly and Teresa Heskins
Directed by Teresa Heskins
Commissioned by Walsall Health and Walsall Community Arts Team

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