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Love Hurts
Written by Frank Bramwell
ABOUT THE PLAY
Love Hurts - but shouldn't Real Love heal? A sassy, captivating play, powerful new writing about the downs and ups of that bitter-sweet, funny little thing we call love...
Love Hurts is about two members of a band, Sally & Phil. In the hour before their gig starts, they explore what Love is all about – and maybe even whether Real Love is for them. Sally, the singer in the band, still smarting from her latest failed love, is sure as hell not going to get caught again. Cool Phil is not so easily fooled by Love – he’s certainly learnt his lesson from his bitter divorce. Together they rehearse Phil’s songs – slowly they begin to reveal their hurts, their inner feelings, their hopes . . .
Writer Frank Bramwell: “We set out to create a piece of theatre that exists for the moment, a by-the-second microscopic look at this turning point in how Real Love comes into being. The play concentrates totally on the actors, the words and the characters. We want the audience totally focused on the two actors, the two actors to be totally focused on each other, and for everyone in the theatre to be focused on each passing moment.”
First performed: Old Club House, Buxton, 2005
Cast and creative team
Cast:
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Sally: Maggie Grace
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Phil: Alan Groucott
Creatives:
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Writer & Producer: Frank Bramwell
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Director & Stage Management: Victoria Grainger
Production photos
Reviews
“It is a bit reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally at first glance, but this is a more subtle play than its distant cousin.”
Three Weeks
"It is also refreshing to find writing about love which does not descend into trite clichés or overblown sentiment. This is a touching and funny play . . “
Three Weeks
“ . . a quiet piece, with the emotions under the surface, far from the in-yer-face emotional bombardment of many Fringe shows. “
British Theatre Guide
“ . . . exceptional: searching, honest, thought-provoking, yet beautiful. Thoroughly captivating.”
Audience feedback
“Great acting in an intimate setting. Very enjoyable.”
Audience feedback
“Wonderful! The dialogue and performers pulled me into their world. Lovely, intimate moments, awkward little moves and looks. Nervous approaches and retreats – great movement.”
Audience feedback
“ I have seen a number of Bramwell’s dramas but this one was exceptional: searching, honest, thought-provoking, yet beautiful. Thoroughly captivating.”
Audience feedback
“A great idea – developing a song out of the interactions on Stage – and well sung too! Hope it’s a great success for you.”
Audience feedback
“ Writing & acting poignant & tense, got to the point, not schmaltzy. Acting was good – couldn’t tell they were acting, very natural. Liked the idea of a chessboard – ‘Life & Love’s a complicated game.”
Audience feedback
“ I did connect with the actors and felt many a chord strike. Lots of questions were asked but no answers were really given – such is life. Great acting in an intimate setting. Very enjoyable.”
Audience feedback
“ Two characters, “damaged goods”, had me uncomfortable, embarrassed and tense as they unfolded the pains of lost loves. An inward piece that retracks the experiences of the heart; moving, erotic, beautiful. It tells it the way we wish it wasn’t – yet it hopes to heal. Wonderful production.”
Audience feedback
“The overall performance was excellent, both players shone for me. Brilliant writing.”
Audience feedback