Fresh from an acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, DESTINY by Florence Espeut-Nickless is coming to The Dukes Lancaster on the 29th October! Written and performed by Espeut-Nickless’, the monologue follows the story of a teenage girl growing up on a rural council estate. After a big night out takes a turn for the worst, Destiny’slife spirals out of control as she desperately tries to learn how to love and be loved.

Directed by Jesse Jones, founding member of award-winning company The Wardrobe Ensemble with dramaturgical support from Obie-award winning writer, director, performerand theatre-maker, Tim Crouch, the show explores hard-hitting themes of sexual abuse andmisuse of power. With a pumping RnB playlist and dry West Country wit, DESTINY tells a powerful story in an emotional and striking way made more intense for the vulnerability ofEspeut-Nickless’ storytelling.

Destiny dreams big. She dreams glamour. She’s gonna be an MTV Base backing dancer, youwatch. If J-Lo can make it outta the Bronx then Destiny can make it off the Hill Rise estate in Chippenham. She’s fearless, ferocious and up for the fight (she’s had to be). Born below the breadline, she’s desperate to see beyond the neighbourhood and find hope in hopelessness.

Florence Espeut-Nickless comments, “I grew up on a council estate in Chippenham in the noughties. DESTINY is inspired by mine and my mate’s experiences in that place and time, by the challenges we faced, the systems we had to fight against, the dreams we lost, and the ones we desperately held onto. It’s ultimately a celebration of working class resilience, drive and determination, of fighting against our destiny and reaching for the mf stars!”

DESTINY was a recipient of The Pleasance’s 2021 National Partnerships Award with Bristol OldVic FERMENT and was shortlisted for Theatre West’s Write On Women Award. It has been

developed with support from Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol Old Vic FERMENT, Pound Arts,Strike a Light, The Pleasance, Tim Crouch, Wiltshire Creative, Natural Theatre, Paper Arts,Theatre Bristol, Hawkwood College, Gane Trust, Pentabus and Wild Child.

The spare set, designed by Jenny Roxburgh, features quick-changing lights and a single chair: we’re almost completely reliant on Espeut-Nickless’s ability to command the room... it is captivatingly told in the West Country vernacular of Destiny’s community. With endearing personality, she does them proud (★★★★ The Guardian).

The UK Tour of DESTINY is funded by Arts Council England and presented in partnership with Tender to support and train their team around the issue of Domestic abuse and sexual violence in the lives of young people. Tender are the only UK charity focused solely on preventing domestic abuse amongst young people: providing a safe and playful space in which they can engage with sensitive topics from a safe distance and develop positive social skills.

Trigger warning: contains references to sexual abuse and violence

Dates: 29th October

Box Office: 01524598500

Website: https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/theatre/destiny

The Dukes

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