A slice of life in an alternative school for excluded pupils in Dalston, London E8. Bailey waits for a decision that may change her life, while the headteacher prepares to leave them all behind.
E8 had a full run in 2019 performed at the Pleasance Queen Dome Edinburgh, Directed Ria Parry, Co- produced North Wall and Ellie Keel. Winner Fringe First Award and Stage Award.
Reviews
The Independent
List
https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/110674-e8/
The Scotsman
An extract of E8 was first performed at Catalyst Festival in 2017 directed by Emily Collins. There was a rehearsed reading at Alchemy festival at the North Wall Oxford 2018 directed Ria Parry.
For me, one of the festival highlights was E8, by Marika McKennell. Vilanculo shone playing Bailey in McKennell’s drama, set in a Pupil Referral Unit. Bailey is waiting for a decision that may change her life, and her character was both written and performed with conviction and nuance. The play was performed as a rehearsed reading here, but it’s easy to see why the North Wall have committed to a full future staging… It’s a play that tackles systemic injustice, but it does this best through superbly written characters who will stay with me long after the festival has finished.
Leah Bond, The Oxford Culture Review
Marika Mckennell 