Preview: Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light on National Tour

Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light embarks on National Tour

Returning after a hugely successful premiere at Alphabetti Theatre in 2023, Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light is set to hit the road on a national tour in February-March 2025. Described by the Guardian as “fizzy, funny [and] heartfelt” this show is an immersive, interactive exploration of one woman’s journey of self-discovery.

Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light
2023 Production
Photo: Victoria Wai

We follow Elsa, whose life has never been boring, though it’s often been a struggle. She’s quirky and kind and clever and funny, but school was always a nightmare, and romance was a mystery; until now. Elsa meets Carmen who just seems to ‘get’ her. Carmen seems to hold the key to who Elsa is, and why it feels like there’s an octopus living inside her head. This comedy drama is a celebration of the joy and freedom that comes when we live as we truly are, and not as the world thinks we should.

The show explores the autistic experience through a female lens, inspired by writer Allison Davies’ own diagnosis of autism. More men and boys are diagnosed as autistic than women and girls, so Davies felt it was time that space was made to hear from different voices. Attitudes towards autism and gender are changing, although there is still a long way to go, as many autistic women and girls struggle to get the support they need. Historically, far more attention has been given to males on the spectrum, and as a neurodivergent woman this show is Davies’s response.

Writer Allison Davies comments, ‘As the saying goes, if you’ve met a neurodivergent person, you’ve met one neurodivergent person. So while it might represent a group of people, at its heart Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light is a human story about an autistic woman who’s as strong and as flawed, as funny and as irritating as the next person. When I began writing the show during the doldrum days of lockdown I had no idea if it was a story people might want to engage with. I gave myself permission to write with the brakes off, with the result that the story is closer to my heart than anything I’ve presented up to now. It’s been an absolute joy and a privilege to work on it with such a talented and dynamic creative team. Thanks to their input I’m proud of where Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light is today, with all its party quirks, and I hope people enjoy it and find it relatable’.

Director of Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light, Karen Traynor comments, ‘When Allison first approached me about directing this play, I was shocked to learn that many autistic women and girls often spend much of their lives undiagnosed and un-supported, masking their true selves to fit in, and negotiating a world designed with their needs thoroughly unrecognised. Why was this news to me? And how could our society let this happen? I wanted to know more and to understand. Instantly, I knew this was a story that others would want, and need, to hear. This illuminating play is a roller-coaster journey through Elsa’s ecstasy and pain. It examines how quick we are to judge and how damaging our judgments can sometimes be. Often it is playful and silly but reminds us we are all unique in this world - we are all Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light’.

Supporting the tour and original co-producers, Ed Cole, Artistic Director of Alphabetti Theatre adds ‘This play was Alphabetti Theatre’s most successful show to date, almost selling out an entire 3-week run. The success is a testament to the incredible creative team and the universal appeal of the story. As it prepares to tour nationally, we hope it continues to inspire audiences to rethink their understanding of neurodiversity and celebrate the rich tapestry of human experience. We are thrilled to support the development of this brilliant production and look forward to seeing how far this light will shine.’

Creatives

Writer Allison Davies

Director Karen Traynor

Producers Chloe Stott & Alphabetti Theatre

Designer Verity Quinn

Composer & Sound Designer Roma Yagnik

AV & Lighting Designer Si Cole

Production & Touring Manager Rachel Glover

Production Stage Manager Andrea Scrimshaw

Assistant Stage Manager Skye Graham

Tour

Gala Durham, 6-8 February

EnableUs Sheffield, 13 February

Derby Theatre, 15 February

Queens Hall Arts Hexham, 19 February

Darlington Hippodrome, 20 February

Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle, 21-22 February

Theatre @41 York, 25 February

Storyhouse Chester, 27 February

The Atkinson Southport, 28 February

Birmingham Rep, 4-6 March

Tickets: For more information and booking please visit: www.allidavies.co.uk

Booking essential.

Running Time: 75 minutes

Age Restrictions: 12+

Access:

All performances are delivered at a relaxed level for sound and lighting, with headphones provided for those who wish to ‘turn up the volume’.