Innovative new production blending lived experience, music, and storytelling comes to
Alphabetti Theatre in May 2025
This May, Grounded, a poignant and remarkable new play born from a collaboration between professional theatre-makers and community participants with lived experience of grief and isolation, will premiere at Alphabetti Theatre (21–24 May 2025).
Set in the shadow of the pandemic, Grounded weaves together themes of loss, connection, and
quiet resilience. At its heart is an evocative dual narrative: a woman (Zoe Lambert) grappling
with personal tragedy, and a sentient house (Christina Berriman-Dawson) that mirrors her
solitude. Blurring the lines between theatre, live music, and experimental soundscapes—
including compositions played on water glasses and a rare Yaybahaar instrument—the
production finds humour and humanity amid darkness. Grounded is a play co-produced by
Alphabetti Theatre and new North East company, Albatross, supported by Newcastle
University, the UKRI and ESRC.
A PLAY ROOTED IN LIVED EXPERIENCE
Developed through long-term workshops with individuals processing grief, Grounded channels
raw personal stories into a collective artistic vision. The play invites audiences to connect with
their own experiences, and each other, in deeply human ways. The writing is laced with humour
and interwoven with an original score realised through sound experiments. It is a play full of life,
even as it honours grief.
Edward Cole, Artistic Director at Alphabetti Theatre, said:
“We are incredibly excited to be working with Albatross and proud to be able to share this
beautiful new play, Grounded. Grounded acts as a cornerstone to our Spring Season and tells a
story that will unite audiences in joy, warmth and a shared understanding of something we all
went through—but many have yet to fully process. We’re incredibly thankful to Newcastle
University, the UKRI and ESRC for allowing us to go on this journey, and we believe the play will
act as a beautiful example of what can be achieved when creativity and research work hand in
hand.
- Tickets:
- 21st May: Pay What You Feel
- 22nd – 24th May: £15 Full-Price, £7.50 Concession, £3 No Questions Asked
- Booking Link: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/grounded
