Performer Name: Flying Plowman Productions
Show Name: YOU by Mark Wilson
Show Description
This is a beautifully written two hander (the actors play multiple characters) told from the point of view of Kathleen. Now in her mid forties, she waits anxiously to meet the son she was forced to give up for adoption as a teenager. The stories of Kathleen, her parents, her teenage boyfriend, her son and the couple who adopt him are interwoven in such a way that a fully rounded understanding of the monumental experience of forced adoption is explored from all angles. The play is about more than that. It is also about universal themes of love, loss and the invisible ties that bind us. This play has received a number of accolades and awards since being first performed, as it really is stunning writing. It's an incredibly moving, beautiful piece of storytelling and is inspired by the writers' own experience of being a child who was adopted. We performed this version at Seven Dials Playhouse in Covent Garden in Nov 2025 and had a great reaction and a number of 4 star reviews. This story was very common not so long ago and belongs to many women and their children with women in England and Wales still awaiting a formal apology for the practice of forced adoption. There is something powerful and healing about a story like this being told and would love to take it to communities who's members may have direct experience and for whom it could offer insight, healing and connection. We have specifically designed this show as a 'stripped back', easily tourable show - perfect for intimate studio venues or more unconventional theatre venues like community halls etc. Myself and fellow actor James Dangerfield would be happy to offer a Q and A and discussion after the performance. A Q and A with the writer Mark Wilson can be arranged upon request and would incur a separate fee. This show would appeal to anyone with experiences of adoption, but also anyone who enjoys human stories and beautiful storytelling.
