Hospice Isle of Man and Rebecca House have been nominated to be the recipient of a play Stage One are presenting at The Studio Theatre, Ballakermeen High School on Sunday 10th July at 7.30pm. The play is called Hospital Food by Eugene O'Hare.

Stage One performed the play at The Erin Arts Centre in February when they competed in Manx Amateur Drama Federation One Act Play Festival. As winners of this festival they were invited to compete in the British All Winners Festival in the summer.

This very touching play was so well received that the cast and everyone involved have decided to perform it one more time raising valuable funds for the local charity. This is particularly fitting as ‘The Retreat’ described below is very much how Jade’s Place – a room at Hospice in memory of a young teenage girl called Jade Quirk – where these services are now offered by the Young Person’s Support Worker team is viewed.

For those interested in buying tickets for the play a brief description is outlined below:

“It is set in a modern residential teenage cancer ward. The patients are at various stages of treatment. All will have been treated by either chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or a combination of all three. The patients have a special room called The Retreat. This is an association room where they can be together without the presence of doctors, nurses, parents and can confide with each other, safe in the knowledge that everything discussed in The Retreat stays in The Retreat. That is the rule of the room. The play opens in The Retreat with the main character Gus (played by Matty Simpson) telling the others that his mum plans to take him to a new homeopathy clinic. There are various reactions from his friends but the underlying dilemma they have is whether they can break the rule of the room.”

Jacqui Hawkes of Stage One Drama School added: “Hospital Food is not a comedy, but within this well written and thought provoking play, there are several lighter moments when the audience will appreciate the humour. The story is told through eyes of teenagers facing a lot of challenges, not only from their disease but also from their treatment.”

Entry is ?8 which is payable on the door. If people wish to reserve seats they can call Jacqui on 671872 or email stageonedrama@gmail.com.  Doors will open at 7.15pm allowing 15 minutes for the audience to take their seats. All seats in the Studio Theatre have excellent viewing.

Stage One proposes to donate 50% of door takings to Hospice Isle of Man and Rebecca House. There will also take a bucket collection at the end of the show.

Mary Doyle from Hospice thanked Jacqui and everyone at Stage One for thinking of their charity.

Pictured are some of the cast presenting the proceeds of a bucket collection from their Christmas show to Amy Davenport representing Rebecca House, the children’s hospice.