Nearly Light

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Drama on 4: Nearly Light

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BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Nearly Light

What happens when teenagers stop going to school, living life online from their bedrooms?

By Kit Withington. New drama about two of the 10% of children struggling to return to ‘normality’, post-pandemic. Inspired by real stories.

These days everybody seems to know somebody whose child won’t go to school any more. Or can’t – they are struggling to adjust after the pandemic. This is a current topic, regularly in the news, as young people and their families try to address and overcome this difficult challenge.  Nearly Light is an insightful exploration of a complex situation, inspired by some of those young people’s stories, from their and their families’ point of view.  

In North London, Elly’s 15 and can no longer face the classroom, or even leaving the house. After months of lockdown, she prefers the solace of her bedroom.  In Manchester, Ciaran’s 16, lives with his mum, and spends his nights gaming. Nearly Light explores what happens when these two worlds collide, with a hopeful outcome. 

Kit Withington is a new playwright from Manchester. She was a member of the Soho Theatre Writers' Lab in 2018, and her play Scrap was shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award. In 2021 she wrote Our Moon Under Water for The Living Newspaper at the Royal Court. In 2023, her play As We Face the Sun was commissioned by the Bush Theatre for their 18-25 young company.

Elly ….. Addison Aston
Ciaran ….. Ché Bradley
Jules ….. Roisin Rae
Mike ….. Brooks Livermore 
Teddy ….. Marloe Mead
Jackie ….. Christine Bottomley

Director : Jelena Budimir 
Sound Designer : Steve Brooke
Illustration : YanKi Darling
Production Manager : Darren Spruce
Producer : Polly Thomas

Written by Kit Withington
Thanks to Angus Blue for the use of his gaming track, Revving Up.

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