TICKER runs at Alphabetti Theatre, St James’ Boulevard from November 19 – 23, 2019. Tickets now on sale.
- Picture and video trailer included, caption and link at end
A NEWCASTLE man’s grief at the sudden tragic death of one of his best schoolfriends has resulted – six years later – in a new play dedicated to her memory.
Actor Tom Machell’s one-man production Tickerdraws on his own intensely personal feelings of loss to explore male grief and highlight a health condition which claims 12 young UK lives every week.
After premiering to much acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, Tickerwill be performed for the first time in the city where he and his friend Steph lived, went to school and became part of a tight-knit group of friends.
Tom, from Jesmond, who trained at the New York Film Academy and whose stage and TV credits include Doctors and Great Expectations, was utterly blindsided when Steph suddenly collapsed and died at work in 2013.
The vibrant, athletic young copywriter from Gosforth was just 23 years old. Friends and family were shocked to learn she had had an undiagnosed heart condition, which caused cardiac arrest.
As a man, Tom felt less able to talk openly about it and experienced intense feelings of loneliness, anger and self-destructive urges.
“Steph was an incredible, funny, smart, beautiful person that I had the pleasure of going to school with … She had the sort of personality that meant if you weren’t laughing within five minutes of meeting her, there was something wrong with you,” he said.
“After she died, I didn’t cope with it very well. I wasn’t sure how to grieve.
“I have always wanted to do something for her. Everyone has run marathons, done bake sales, cycled across Europe and this is how I came to Ticker. Steph loved going to the theatre and was the only person from school who came to every single one of my plays.”
Although dedicated to Steph and influenced strongly by Tom’s experience after her death,Tickeris entirely fictional.
“I didn’t want to write about her specifically as I think she would have hated that. The aim of Ticker is to, firstly, highlight and raise awareness of sudden cardiac death, so more young people get tested but to also explore and highlight the problems with male grief. We don’t talk about things.
“I’ve cried on my own but I have never had the courage to talk to my mates about it. Ticker is dedicated to the memory of one of my most favourite people I have ever met and I hope I can do her proud.”
Ticker is partnering with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), a charity dedicated to preventing young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research.
For media information and interviews contact Keith Newman at Highlights Public Relations on 07814 397951,keith@highlightspr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
CAPTION: Tom at Alphabetti Theatre (Bigger Picture Agency)
Tickeris written and performed by Tom Machell
Directed by Derek Anderson
Composition and Sound Designby Holly Khan.
Voice – Alice Stokoe
Photo(s) by Matt Crockett
Video trailer: https://vimeo.com/361642465/5408b91f20
Video Trailer directed by Daniel D.Moses
Tickets: https://www.ticketsignite.com/event/1659/ticker-by-tom-machell
About Tom Machell
Tom Machell is an actor and writer/performer from Jesmond in Newcastle.
As an actor, Tom is a series regular on Comedy Central’s viral sketch show Every Blank Ever; other television credits include Doctors (BBC), Jerk (BBC), News Crack (Ch 4), BABS (BBC) & Heroes of The Skies (American History Channel). He has appeared in numerous Short and Feature Films including The Keeper, Great Expectations , Mary Anning & The Dinosaur Hunter, Die Agentin, BFI funded Sticky and The Bucket, which he also wrote.
Tom made his Off-Broadway debut with Carol Tambor Award Winning play Life According to Saki. Other theatre credits include Offie-nominated Outlying Islands (Kings Head Theatre), Hand To God (English Theatre Frankfurt), Benighted (Old Red Lion) and three runs of Guinness World Record Holding show News Revue.
Ticker, Tom’s debut play, was printed by Play Dead Press and completed a run at the Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 to critical acclaim. Tom is 1/5 of award winning comedy troupe zazU who have four successful Edinburgh Fringe runs, transferring all shows to sell-out runs at The Soho Theatre. They are currently developing their work for radio and television.