“This is probably the best two-hander to emerge for many a year”
-The Yorkshire Post
Wish You Weren’t Here
By Katie Redford
A brand-new comedy about beaches, bonding & body image
The world premiere of Wish You Weren’t Here by Katie Redford toured UK theatres and their local schools in Spring 2024, in co-production with Sheffield Theatres.
“I might not be able to drive legally, but I’m pretty nifty in a dodgem”
After all those extra shifts, all Lorna wants is a night out on the town and time to reconnect with her daughter. All 16-year-old Mila wants is for the world to stop burning. And for someone to take down that ‘Beach Body Ready’ poster. Please. As mum and daughter check into their ‘premium’ room where they can almost see the sea, they quickly discover that their favourite seaside town, which was once their annual sunny escape, could really use some attention – just like their relationship.
WISH YOU WEREN’T HERE is a hilarious and heart-warming exploration of family relationships, the agony of growing up, and how to find your way in the world when you can’t help thinking you’re just not good enough.
Photo by Chris Saunders
Katie Redford (TAPPED, Theatre503; YELLOW LIPS, BBC Radio 4) is one of our Resident Writers developing shows in conversation with hundreds of young people in schools and local communities around the country through our Future Makers process. Over the last year Katie has worked closely with young people across the country, working with them and listening to them as they share their stories, experiences and perspectives on the things that really matter and a few that really don’t.
Together, they have uncovered a powerful intergenerational story that explores some of the pressures and challenges faced by young women today.
“Katie Redford’s new play looks to continue a fantastic streak of new writing programmed by Sheffield Theatres, co-producing with the Theatre Centre”
Resources for Schools and Teachers
If your school has booked Wish You Weren’t Here then you have access to EXPLODE THE SHOW, a resources page which includes videos from all the creatives with exclusive insights into how we made the show. As well as tasks for your students to complete, pre-show lesson plans and a copy of the recording of the play.
Cast
Lorna - Eleanor Henderson
Mila - Olivia Pentelow
Creatives
Writer - Katie Redford
Director - Rob Watt
Designer - Bethany Wells
Sound Designer - Tom Sharkett
Movement Director - Kiren Virdee
Lighting Designer - Jess Brigham
Sound Associate - Jim Cooper
Video Design - Rob Watt
Company Stage Manager - Laura Whittle
Production Manager - Brent Tan
Artwork - Guy J Sanders
Casting Consultant - Becky Paris
Watch the production trailer
Wish You Weren’t Here 2024 Trailer
We are enormously grateful for the generous support of the Cockayne Foundation, which has enabled the run at Soho Theatre.
“a finely observed comedy”
“authentic, heartfelt, funny and moving”
“a gorgeously relatable production”
“captures the ever-shifting mix of love and pain between parent and child”
