Crossing the Void - New Theatre @ Heart of Hawick from koi collective

LIVE BORDERS ARTS & CREATIVITY PRESENTS ‘CROSSING THE VOID’ FROM KOI COLLECTIVE.  Sally MacAlister collaborates with upcoming theatre company koi collective to bring back their award winning dark comedy, Crossing the Void, after a sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Hannah has been dead for a year, and her pals are still struggling to find their feet. Hoping a seance will bring the group together again, the girls toast, celebrate and mourn over a bottle of Bucky. However, ghosts of many forms drift amongst them, secrets hang in the air and lines are crossed that unpick the stitches of their social fabric, revealing the ultimate truth – the group are now no more than strangers.
SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2023 DOORS OPEN: 19.10 CURTAIN UP: 19.30 DURATION: 80 MINUTES TICKETS: £15 (£12.00)
AGE 16+ BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE. [https://uk.patronbase.com/_HeartOfHawick/Sections/Choose?prod_id=L520&perf_id=1]
WINNERS OF THE ‘BEST DRAMA’ OF FRINGE 2022 DEREK AWARD – ‘A must see show’

THEATRE SCOTLAND (_5 STARS_) – ‘This is mature and effective theatre just waiting to be taken in by the public. Go and see this play.’

THE SCOTSMAN (_4 STARS)_ – ‘A messy, vulnerable exploration of grief which pulls no punches’

NORTH WEST END UK (_4 STARS_) – ‘Masters of their story and of the skills necessary to tell it.’

BINGE FRINGE (_4 STARS_) – ‘A spooky, sideways glance down the looking glass of dysfunctional relationships’

THE STUDENT (_4 STARS_) – ‘a brave premiere, which profoundly explores the fracturing of old friendships, in a sensationally supernatural light.’

ALL EDINBURGH THEATRE (_4 STARS_) – ‘A coherent and sensitive portrayal of very tricky subjects.’

BOUQUETS & BRICKBATS (_4.3 STARS_) – ‘compelling and believable’ 
MEET THE CAST:
ZARA LOUISE KENNEDY: LORNA

Zara’s love of acting began in Dumfries & Galloway at high school, before moving on to the Acting and English BA course at Edinburgh Napier from 2018-2022. She has starred in short films, directed both theatre and film, made her Fringe debut with _koi collective_ in 2022 and is a Professional Voice Producer, currently practicing in Edinburgh. Zara has also just completed a tour of Jennifer Adam’s _HER_, with the Strange Town Touring Company, which was performed in Edinburgh high schools and the Scottish Storytelling Centre at the beginning of this year.

Zara’s credits include: B1 in ‘_HER_’ (2023), Lorna in ‘_Crossing the Void_’ (2022), Gabriel & Gabriel the Elf in '_The Christmas Present'_ [Audiobook] (2022), Sarah in_ 'O Go My Man'_ (2021), Maria in '_Dear Maria'_ [Short Film] (2019), Multi-role in '_Grimm's Fairy Tales' _(2018)
   
ZOE KINNIBURGH: JOSIE

Zoe’s passion for acting began at Gordonstoun School in Moray where she was involved in several school productions, one of which toured primary schools around Scotland. In 2017 she was selected to become a member of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain - the world’s first youth theatre organisation - and underwent a 2-week intensive training programme at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. In 2018, she volunteered in several auditions for prospective NYT members in Glasgow and London. Zoe made her Fringe debut with _koi collective_ in 2022 and is excited to revive it at Heart of Hawick this February.

Zoe’s credits include Josie in ‘_Crossing the Void_’ (2022), Multi-role in '_Loveplay' _(2021), Reverend Hale in '_The Crucible_' (2018), 8th Juror in '_12 Angry Men_' (2018), Grusha in '_The Caucasian Chalk Circle_' (2017)
 
EVIE MORTIMER: CHARLIE

Evie found her passion for acting in high school in Fife, and in 2018 enrolled in Edinburgh Napier University’s BA Acting and English programme. Evie performed with Glasgow theatre company, Bard in the Botanics, as part of their 2022 Graduate scheme and, has since, also toured with Strange Town Touring Company in Duncan Kidd’s _Storm Lantern_. Evie is incredibly excited to be bringing _Crossing the Void_ to the Heart of Hawick this February, following its exciting debut at the Edinburgh Fringe last year.

Evie’s credits include Sophie Scholl in ‘_Storm Lantern_’ (2022), Charlie in ‘_Crossing the Void_’ (2022), Mustardseed & Lysandra in '_Midsummer Nights Dream' (_2022), Jamie in ‘_We Listen_’ [Short Film] (2022), Joey in ‘_Moira_’ (Screen Academy Scotland), Narrator in ‘_Bleedin’ Free_’ [Audio] (2021), Multi-role in '_Loveplay'_ (2021)
 
GEORGIA-LEE ROBERTS: ABBY

Growing up in Edinburgh, Georgia-Lee has performed each year in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 2015 and has kept coming back for more. Georgia gained her HND in Acting and Performance before beginning her studies in BA (Hons) Acting and English at Edinburgh Napier University. Georgia took _Crossing the Void_ to Fringe alongside _koi collective_ in 2022.

Georgia-Lee’s credits include Abby in ‘_Crossing The Void_’ (2022) Rachel Crabbe in '_One Man Two Guvnors_' (2021-), Liz in '_Sunshine on Leith_' (2021-), Zoe in '_O Go My Man_' (2021), Lady Macbeth in '_Brave Macbeth_' (2017-), Nancy Maclehose in '_Rabbie_' (2017-2019)
   
AMELIA FLEUR YAYICI: FINN

Amelia was previously a student of French and Spanish until her journey moved her into the acting world and on to the BA Acting and English course at Edinburgh Napier. Starting a little later on in her life, Amelia performed for the first time on Bedlam Theatre’s stage in 2017. Since then, Amelia has packed in a lot: from theatre shows to short films, fringe shows to radio plays and, at the beginning of this year, started work with the BBC as a Production Assistant. 

Amelia’s credits include Soccer Mom in ‘_The Wolves_’ (2022), Finn in ‘_Crossing The Void_’ (2022), Multi-role in '_Loveplay_' (2021), Ensemble in '_Vagina Monologues_' (2020), Fran in '_Things I Know to be True_' (2019), James Joyce in '_Going Slightly Mad_' (2019), Mother Turd in '_Like Drowning_' (2018), Amelia in '_Plenty of Linguine at Home_' (2018), A in '_Crave_' (2018), Major Robbie Ross in '_Our Country's Good_' (2018), Mother in '_Mother and the Monster_' (2017)
 
DIRECTORS NOTE (GRACE BAKER):

What’s the right way to deal with grief? Is there really an answer to this question. Is it best to try and move on with the memories you’ve already created or do you try to reconnect with the dead in a search for answers? Set in an uninhabited, soggy flat in Edinburgh we witness five friends attempt to reach out to their recently passed friend Hannah and their past selves. Dealing with a piece which explores the unexpected suicide of such a young character is something that I had to ensure was dealt with care and respect.  

Working with the girls at _koi collective_ has been a fantastic experience and we are all extremely proud to present to you _Crossing the Void_ by Sally MacAlister a new piece of writing where naturalism meets magical realism. So, sit back and enjoy this spooky-ooky play.

WRITERS NOTE (SALLY MACALISTER):

The story of _Crossing the Void_ started with a very simple prompt: five girls agree to a séance. 

In its first draft, this was precisely what it was. It was only until I saw _koi collective_ in rehearsals that we realised together it was so much more than that. When reshaping the play, we realised it is built on loss, grief, and something that after the last three years, I think we can all understand: social exhaustion. The pandemic will be underlying and interweaving in stories for many years to come, and I think the challenge for theatre will be to address the parts of us we’ve lost, without giving into melancholy. With a bit of Buckfast, an Amazon-prime Séance bumper pack and a ‘weed box’, we hope _Crossing the Void_ has done just that.