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Lee
Bainbridge
Written and directed by Philip Stokes
With Lee Bainbridge and Jack Stokes
A heroic, young, and shellshocked soldier, Wesley Hepton returns home from the trenches. To help support the family, his mother submits his art portfolio to painter Mr. Lupine. Wesley attends an interview to become his apprentice. But on arrival, he encounters another kind of madness that threatens to push him to destruction as he discovers the ulterior motives behind the artist’s palette.
One of The Scotsman’s “Top Five Shows to See at the Edinburgh Fringe,” Shellshocked is a thrilling study of heroism versus cowardice.
CONTENT TRANSPARENCY
In an effort to care for our community, we’re sharing details about this production that may be sensitive for members of our audience. The following information may reveal plot points.
Contains discussions of PTSD, suicide, references to the war, a prop gun, and gunshot sound effects.
Richard Jordan Productions is a leading London-based multi-award-winning creative production company. For the past 26 years, it’s been driven by a strong social agenda, committed to developing, commissioning, and producing plays and musicals by new and established writers and artists from around the world. Recipient of the TONY, Olivier and EMMY Awards, the company has produced over 260 productions in 28 countries, including 80 world premieres, producing, and collaborating with many of the world’s leading theatres. In 2022 the company became the first international producers to present work in Ukraine since the outbreak of war with the Russian Federation in a collaboration with the country’s national arts festival which brought art and humanitarian aid into the country. At the Edinburgh Fringe, Richard Jordan Productions is the recipient of 17 Scotsman Fringe First Awards for New Writing – the highest number awarded to any independent producer in the fringe history. In 2013, Richard Jordan Productions became the first UK producer to have been awarded every notable Best New Play Award On and Off-Broadway. Richard Jordan Productions was a first recipient of the Society of London Theatre New Producers Bursary Award and has been named seven times in The Stage Top 100 UK Arts and Entertainment Professionals. In 2011, Richard was selected for lifetime inclusion in A & C Black’s annual publication Who's Who for his creative work and achievements in the UK and international arts industries.
★★★★★ "Superb acting, impeccable timing, a brilliant combination of psychological tension with comic release, and an examination of what makes great art place Shellshocked firmly within that category." – The Adelaide Advertiser
★★★★★ "A rich tapestry of emotional and psychological tension"
"The chemistry between Stokes and Bainbridge is palpable, making their interactions charged with intensity and unpredictability" – Theatre Weekley
★★★★ "Tantalising... A real character-driven drama, beautifully played and with an almost unexpected outcome." – British Theatre Guide
★★★★ "Philip Stokes has written a satisfying and complex play about the frustrations of creative expression, the depths of jealousy and the potential for the broken spirit to recover from the worst of experiences." – The Scotsman
"Nothing less than a triumph. It is dramaturgically superbly structured, the script sharp and layered, the direction measured and subtle." – Fringe Review
"This dark and tense play is enthralling to watch. With expert acting from both Bainbridge and Stokes, I will be thinking about this show for a while to come." – Everything Theatre