A black-clad performer holds a vivid magenta cape spread wide like wings before the gold tinsel curtain.

The Cage, The Vaults (VAULT Festival), Waterloo, London2023

Scratches

The Production

Plain Heroines’ Scratches, written and performed by Aoife Kennan and staged at VAULT Festival 2023, is a funny and candid new play about self-harm, friendship and recovery. Based on Kennan’s own experiences, the production uses humour, cabaret energy and confetti to open up a difficult conversation with warmth and honesty.

27 photographs in the curated edit

Director: Gabriella Bird
Lighting Design: Catja Hamilton
Sound Design: Hugh Sheehan
Commissioned by: Plain Heroines / VAULT Festival
Photography: Steve Gregson

An out-of-focus foreground figure frames the purple-suited performer standing at a microphone against the shimmering curtain.

A blonde performer in a purple suit stands at a microphone with both arms raised before a gold tinsel curtain.

A blue-lit performer stands nearly silhouetted beneath bright overhead lights in front of dark tinsel.

The purple-suited performer holds a microphone close, looking directly out against a densely sparkling gold backdrop.

A wide blue-lit stage shows a silhouetted performer on the left and the purple-suited performer on the right before the gold backdrop.

The purple-suited performer moves across the stage with one leg lifted and hair swinging before the gold curtain.

A performer in black costume and magenta cape speaks into a microphone under blue lights against gold tinsel.

The performer sits side-on on a white stool beside an unused microphone stand against the gold tinsel backdrop.

The purple-suited performer sings with arms spread as a shadowed performer behind creates a second pair of raised arms.

A performer in black wraps his arms around the purple-suited performer, whose eyes are closed against the gold backdrop.

A wide stage view shows two performers embracing at center, small against the gold curtain and blue-lit floor with a stool at the side.

The purple-suited performer smiles into a handheld microphone, framed tightly against a sparkling gold background.

Two performers leap toward each other across the stage with arms raised against the gold tinsel curtain.

A hooded performer in a magenta-purple cape holds a microphone close while looking sideways against gold fringe.

Two performers sit on the floor facing each other under blue light, one in a purple suit and one in black.

The purple-suited performer points sharply to the side while holding a microphone under bright blue overhead lights.

The purple-suited performer sings at a microphone while another performer rises behind with arms lifted in shadow.

Two performers share the stage before the gold backdrop, one at a microphone and the other reaching outward beside a stool.

The purple-suited performer gestures with open hands in a tight, expressive frame against gold tinsel.

A blue-lit performer stands alone in silhouette with a bright white light shining from behind.

Seated performers face the audience as the purple-suited performer gestures and the black-clad performer watches against the gold backdrop.

Under saturated blue light, the purple-suited performer holds both hands on their head before a dark glittering backdrop.

A cape-wearing performer stands in the foreground opening a magenta-lined cloak while the purple-suited performer speaks behind him.

Two performers stand close but separated in front of gold fringe, one looking forward while the other turns away thoughtfully.

A wide scene shows the purple-suited performer at a microphone while a black-clad performer moves through blue stage light.

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