Wayward Productions have announced the worldwide premiere dance-theatre adaptation of Christie Watson’s best-selling memoir, The Language of Kindness, which will open in Coventry on 20 May before touring.

Based on Christie’s 20 years as a Nurse, The Language of Kindness is a joy filled celebration of nurses and front-line healthcare workers, which will resonate with audiences  everywhere following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The piece brings to life the realities, the challenges, heartbreaks and incomparable joys of working for the NHS and supporting families as they face their best and worst moments.

Wayward Productions have been developing the poignant new piece for two years and now face the challenge of ensuring a socially distanced production: a bold ensemble piece about the tactile work of nurses where the company never touch. 

Adapted and directed by Sasha Milavic Davies and James Yeatman, The Language of Kindness will open at Warwick Arts Centre on 20 May, as part of Coventry UK City of Culture in the very first week that live performance is permitted  under the government’s roadmap for reopening. The day before its official opening, a free open dress rehearsal will be held for NHS workers and secondary school students. It  will then tour to Assembly Hall Theatre and Shoreditch Town Hall. 

The ensemble cast includes Tina Chiang (Rocks; Chimerica), Etta Fusi (Cannibals, Royal Exchange  Theatre; Carnival of Souls, HOME MCR), Tamzin Griffin (Dad’s Army; The ABC Murders), Keziah  Joseph (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Bridge Theatre; Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear,  National Theatre), Clive Mendus (Lionboy, Complicité; Othello, RSC) and Harriet Webb (It’s True,  It’s True, It’s True; I May Destroy You). 

The production features set and costume design by Zoe Hurwitz, lighting by Jess Bernberg, sound by Gareth Fry and video by Hayley Egan.

Author Christie Watson said: “Nurses give their soul to help sick people every day: working  14-hour days without eating or drinking because there is no time - not even to use the toilet. Nurses are using foodbanks. Nurses are homeless. Nurses now have the highest occupational suicide rate. Nurses do not have time to give the kindness, care and compassion that people so desperately need, but they find it anyhow. Compassion is the only thing that can save us – remind us who we are, or at least who we are meant to be. We will all be nursed at some stage in our lives. Every single one of us. We need our nurses.

For more information, please click here. Tickets can be purchased on the individual theatre websites.