We recently commissioned 6 writers to create short, rapid response plays about the urgent political issues of today, and out of this, our Burn It Down series was born. These 6 short plays were rehearsed and performed in a single day, and we are thrilled to share a live audio recording of those performances. These plays are available to listen to, exclusively on the Stratford East Podcast until 16 August.

I Want To Live by Jamie Hale

On the 20th March 2020, the wave of the pandemic was breaking across the UK. In London, Sam, a disabled health affairs journalist, values his independence and autonomy above all else.

As the risks to him of contracting COVID-19 become clearer, he is forced to confront the gulf between the way he wants to be living and the reality he now has to face.

Drawing on media from those frenzied days, and the interpersonal tensions that arise in the pressure-cooker of his flat as he navigates a new relationship and old fears, Sam has to ask, can he both have his life, and live?

Performed Thu 28 Apr 2022.

The transcript of I Want To Live is available to download here.

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