#29 MERCY HOUSE by Christopher Coleman

Join our online reading on Zoom in which participants will be invited to read the play or just sit back and listen from the comfort of their own home. The reading will be followed by a thought sharing session and opportunity to ask the writer about their work.

We expect the session to take up to 2.5/3 hours with an interval.

MERCY HOUSE by Christopher Coleman

Following one man's journey as he hits rock bottom and tries to seek help in the underfunded industry of treatment and rehabilitation. With constant budget cuts in local councils, there are often very few choices, and for ‘Cal’, Mercy House is the only option. A Christian run, male only facility, riddled with extremely troubled individuals and toxic masculinity. At first it does not seem to be the friendliest or safest of places for an openly gay man. 

Set in South London, this hard hitting drama is beautifully written, with shocking imagery and simply poetic language. Opening audiences eyes to a world not well represented in film and theatre. The realm of chemsex or ‘Party Drugs’ within some LGBTQ communities and the never ending quest of chasing the highest of highs and those dangers that go with it. 

Although following the main character ‘Cal’, it has a wonderful large ensemble cast of multifaceted characters also battling their own demons. All from vastly different backgrounds, this script masterfully depicts the complicated  toxic mix of men's mental health issues, trauma, egos, testosterone, addiction and the feeling of hopelessness.

Trigger Warnings: Shocking depictions of addiction, overdoses and drug uses.