Synopsis

‘Above Water’ is a play about a set of twins responding in very different ways to the aftermath of their mother’s death in their childhood.

Having abruptly left her family home wrapped with guilt and anger, Arlene returns after hearing that her grandma is going back to their home island of Nevis in the Caribbean. Arlene has been estranged from her family, including her twin brother, for a number of years. After blaming herself and her aunt’s controlling boyfriend for her mother’s freak drowning, she returns to face her twin and the secrets she thought were truly buried.

‘Above Water’ is a play about family after loss, the warmth, the joy and soul which ties us together in the face of conflict and change.

Trigger warnings: This play contains themes around death by drowning, suicide, mental health and domestic violence.

‘Above Water’ was initially born out of a writers group at Nottingham Playhouse ran by Craig Gilbert. The play has had a reading at Nottingham Playhouse in 2024.