Cardboard Citizens launch new play in Newcastle, highlighting hidden homelessness
Faun - starting at Alphabetti Theatre next week - is described as a celebration of queer community, but focuses on a serious issue
Last updated 24th Mar 2023
A new play arriving at Newcastle's Alphabetti Theatre next week is hoping to highlight the rising issue of hidden homelessness - and it's impact on the LGBTQIA+ community in particular.
Faun has been commissioned by activist group Cardboard Citizens - and shares a celebration of queer community, as well as the experiences of poverty and homelessness.
Writer, Vinnie Heaven, tells us they want to reach out to the people affected by this, but tells us it's an inclusive show - and hopes everyone will feel connected:
"Something broader, that anyone can come to - so it doesn't feel like anyone has had the door shut in their face to the theatre - there's still something for you in this.
"But predominantly its a mirror for people who are currently sofa surfing, experiencing that homelessness, and especially for young trans and queer people."
Vinnie explains, while the issue of sofa-surfing may not always be seen as serious as people sleeping rough, it is still a dangerous position for anyone to find themselves in;
"Sofa-surfing IS homelessness."
They want to explain why it's a such a vital topic to address;
"It was to reach as many people as possible, from all different demographics and intersectional identities to go;
"You might not feel as though you're on the street and experiencing homelessness in the stereotypical way you've been told it exists - but if you're sofa-surfing, you're in unstable housing."
Cardboard Citizens creates theatre with, for and about citizens with lived experience of poverty, inequity and homelessness.
They use theatre, art and training, hoping to empower individuals to make change in their own lives, and in their communities.
Vinnie tells us more about where the idea for the play came from:
"I had just been reading about the fourth response in a crisis from Fight, Flight or Freeze, and then I discovered Fawn, which was to soften yourself, to make yourself more palatable, to make yourself smaller.
"And I thought everybody at some point must have experienced that, or a majority of people for sure.
"And I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if you plopped an actual fawn, a more animal version of a "faun", into a situation and then sort of ask them to survive it."
Faun is on at Alphabetti from Tuesday 28th of March, to Saturday 15th of April.
As with all of Alphabetti Theatre's productions, several nights of the performance are pay what you feel, to allow everyone to access theatre, regardless of income.
For Faun, there are also £1 available between 4th and 15th of April for anyone experiencing homelessness and poverty.
There will be captioned and audio described performances, and all Saturday matinees will be relaxed performances.
You can find out more about Alphabetti here, and more from Cardboard Citizens online.
There are support resources for anyone experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, via Shelter and Crisis North East.
There is also support available via Newcastle City Council's website, and Street Zero.