PRESS RELEASE
7 September 2010
For Immediate Release
Tron Theatre Company presents
DIRTY PARADISE
Written and performed by Leann O’Kasi
Directed by Alison Peebles
Visual Artist Arlene Wandera
Inspired by I Only Came to Use the Phone by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Previews Fri 1 & Sat 2 Oct, 7.45pm
Tue 5 – Sat 9 Oct, 7.45pm
The Tron Theatre is delighted to be presenting a brand new piece of work from writer and performer
Leann O’Kasi. Dirty Paradise is a heartfelt, impactful play dealing with inner demons and internal voices
and will be performed as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2010.
Based on a short story by Nobel Prize-winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez and directed by Alison
Peebles, this very human story takes the audience on a journey of escaping and hiding and eventually
self-recognition.
Maria has had enough of the world. Broke, misunderstood and frustrated, she can't get her magician
husband to make the strange sounds in her head disappear. When her car breaks down in the desert,
she finds herself seeking refuge in an asylum where the food is free, the drugs are kicking and games are
always allowed after 2pm. But Maria finds that she can’t run away from the cruel world forever.
Featuring innovative use of sound and space from visual artist Arlene Wandera, this piece creates a very
beautiful, thrilling and sensory experience. The story is told, not only through words and actions but in
lighting, sound and atmosphere.
Dirty Paradise has been an ongoing collaboration with The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival
(1-24 October 2010) to ensure an honest and responsible piece and premieres on the opening night of
the festival.
Ruth Donnelly, Theatre Programmer for SMHAFF, said,
“We are delighted that Leann has pro-actively chosen to collaborate with the festival on this project,
working closely with us, artists and health practitioners, and people with personal experience of mental
health issues to develop such a beautiful and well researched show.”
For further information or to request images and interviews, please contact:
Laurie McCormack
Press & Marketing Officer
Tron Theatre
laurie.mccormack@tron.co.uk
0141 552 5307
ENDS
LISTINGS
Previews: Fri 1 & Sat 2 Oct
Tue 5 – Sat 9 Oct
Tron Theatre Company presents
DIRTY PARADISE
7.45pm
Tickets: £8.50 (£6.50) (previews £5)
Changing House
Tron Theatre
Box Office: 0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
BIOGS
Leann O'Kasi
Leann is currently Artist in Residence at the Tron Theatre and graduated from the Central School of
Speech and Drama in 2006.
She was born in Dublin and grew up in London where she lived until moving to Glasgow two years ago.
Theatre includes Held Over and Ethnic Tensions (Theatre 503), Nigerian Story (Òran Mór), The Journey
(Southwark Playhouse), The Tempest and Measure for Measure (Rosemary Branch), Dido Belle (BAC),
Performance Lab (Oldham Coliseum), Universal Citizens (Centre Culturel e Sportif, Tunisia), Logo (The
Place), Gestate Readings (National Theatre of Scotland).
TV/radio includes Single Father (BBC1/Red Productions), Restraint (Flexible Films), Hotbed (BBC Radio)
and all the female voices for the award winning Mediaco-op/Accord Angola documentary Condom
Commandos (GFT/44th Chicago International Film Festival).
Leann's recent directing credits include the UK Premiere of Betrayed for the Tron Theatre and the
Scottish Premiere of Topdog/Underdog for the Citizens Theatre.
Alison Peebles
Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival
1-24 October 2010, www.mhfestival.com
Now a regular on the arts scene, the 4th Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival has grown to
become one of Scotland's most valued cultural events with nearly 200 exciting and affordable events
taking place in venues throughout the country.
The Festival has engaged artists, connected with communities and formed partnerships across Scotland
to help challenge attitudes towards mental health through the arts. The range of issues tackled is broad
and arts events include film, music, theatre, literature, comedy and visual art, ensuring there is something
for everyone.
The Festival is led by The Mental Health Foundation in association with national partners Healthier
Scotland (Scottish Government), see me, NHS Health Scotland and Healthy Working Lives, NHS Greater
Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Lanarkshire Recovery Network and
Voices of Experience (VoX). The national partners are joined by a supporting network of over 100 arts,
public, community and voluntary organisations across Scotland.
2