Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

EDIEF banner image

You are here

  1. Home
  2. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Engagement Fellowship
  3. Projects
  4. Dr Charlotte Jones - The Beat of Our Hearts - staging new histories of LGBTQIA+ loneliness

Dr Charlotte Jones - The Beat of Our Hearts - staging new histories of LGBTQIA+ loneliness

Principal Investigator: Dr Charlotte Jones (University of Exeter)
Project Partners: Natalie McGrath (Writer), Intercom Trust, Exeter Northcott Theatre
Research Team: Dr Richard Vytniorgu (Research Associate, University of Exeter), Dr Fred Cooper (Advisory Team, University of Exeter)
Project Website

One woman and four men listening to another man talking, against a backdrop of images tapped to the wall
Rehearsal
Image Credit: Craig Fuller

This project draws upon previous and ongoing loneliness and LGBTQIA+ research and collaborations based within the Welcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health (WCCEH) at the University of Exeter. The fellowship began with a programme of creative workshops about loneliness and belonging with LGBTQIA+ communities in the Southwest of England, in partnership with the Intercom Trust, a local LGBTQ+ charity. This engagement work shaped the development of a playscript by local writer Natalie McGrath, which was previewed online as part of the Being Human Festival in November 2021, then staged at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre during LGBT+ History Month in February 2022. The production was accompanied by a series of discussions and stalls, with input from LGBTQIA+ charities, groups, and initiatives.

Project Film

Watch the film about this project below, made by biggerhouse films. There are two versions: an audio-described version and a BSL (British Sign Language) version.

BSL Version

Audio Described Version

Download the transcription file.

Please see full credit in the expandable section below.

Project Team

Charlotte Jones, University of Exeter - Project Lead
Richard Vytniorgu, University of Exeter - Postdoctoral Research Associate
Natalie McGrath – Playwright and Project Partner
Daniel Buckroyd, Exeter Northcott Theatre – Project Partner
Andy Hunt, Intercom Trust – Project Partner
Naomi Turner - Producer
Fred Cooper, University of Exeter - Historical Advisor

Partnering Organisations

Exeter Northcott Theatre
Intercom Trust
Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health

The Beat of Our Hearts premiered at Exeter Northcott Theatre from 3rd – 5th February 2022. For the production, we were joined by the following wider team:

Cast
Valentine Rebecca Todd
Quill Elijah W Harris
Luca Frewyn Thursfield
Dove Kieron Jecchinis

Creative Team
Writer Natalie McGrath
Director Scott Hurran
Designer Pete Butler
Sound Designer and Composer Tom Foskett-Barnes
Lighting Director Jamie Platt
Movement Director Sophie Cottle
Dramaturg Josie Sutcliffe
Dramatherapist Wabriya King

Production Team
Producer Naomi Turner
Production Manager Elaine Faulkner
Stage Manager (On the Book) Zoe Fitzgibbon
Assistant Stage Manager Jay Seldon
Costume Supervisor Aly Fielden
Set Build Backdrop Designs

Access
Audio Describer Jonathan Nash
Audio Describer Assistant Harriet Godfrey
BSL Interpreter Catherine Hall

Script Development Team
Writer Natalie McGrath
Director / Script Development Scott Hurran
Valentine Maggie Bain
Luca Tianna Arnold
Quill Zachary Hing
Dove Andrew Macbean

Marketing / PR
Marketing and Development
Director Kelly Johnson
Marketing Manager Laura Van Wymersch
PR Consultant Gillian Taylor
PR Consultant David Burns
Press & Marketing Officer &
Poster Design Eleanor Fitzpatrick
Press & Marketing Officer &
Poster Design Ralph Whitehead
Illustration / logo design Frank Duffy

Acknowledgements

We are especially grateful to everyone who generously shared their stories and ideas with us through our events and workshops – particularly Emily Faulkner, Claire, Michelle Miller, Ruby, Monica, M, Sheena Sen, Grey, Alfie Horrill, Jade Varley, Riley Batty, Mitchy, Elliott Ramsey, Maddie, Perrin Hooper, Jord, and Holly.

We also appreciate the many amazing people and organisations who have supported or contributed to this project: Tina Dixon; Exeter Northcott Technical Team, Front of House and Box Office Staff; the WCCEH Research Support team (Kate Ellis, Lucy Hodges, Melanie Shaw and Emma Fowler); Professor Mark Jackson; Professor Manuela Barreto; Professor Jana Funke; Sharifa Hashem Al Hashemy; Exeter Arts & Culture; Exeter City of Literature; Exeter Culture; Being Human Festival; Exmouth Pride; Exeter Pride; It’s All About You Wellbeing; the Exeter University LGBTQ+ Staff Network and Trans and Non-binary Cafe; Exeter Guild and Student LGBTQ+ Society; Bookbag; Out And About; OutStories; and Hidayah LGBTQI+.