Rachel Stockdale is in residency this week working on her new show Fat Chance.

Rachel StockdaleWriter/Performer

Rachel is a fat, benefit class actor and theatre-maker from TS1, in the top 1% of underprivileged areas in the UK.

She studied BA (Hons) Performance at Northumbria University and received a full scholarship to ALRA North, gaining an MA in Professional Acting.

As a writer/performer, her credits include Tub Time: Unplugged for Northern Stage, Coal Girls at Oldham Coliseum and Bin Day on BBC iPlayer, which was created in lockdown and recently won Best Short Film at the North East International Film Festival.

As an actor, Rachel’s credits include Scar Top for the series United Kingdoms on BBC Radio 4, Black Dark at Live Theatre, A View From The Bridge at Bolton Octagon and The Black Prince on Netflix.

Rachel is also a trained teacher and lead facilitator for Live Youth Theatre and Newcastle Theatre Royal, and co-produces Four New Plays at The Central Bar in Gateshead, a quarterly new writing night showcasing emerging and diverse talent.

Rachel is represented by BOSH Management and The Voice Agency.

Fat Chance
by Rachel Stockdale

Fatphobia – a pathological fear of fatness.

1) Intrapersonal Fatphobia – how you view yourself

2) Interpersonal Fatphobia – how other people treat you/comment on your body.

3) Institutional Fatphobia – lack of access to meaningful participation in society, i.e. a sense of belonging, quality medical care and representation in media.

Fat Chance is for anyone who has ever felt like they’ve had to shrink themselves

Anyone who’s adapted to be more palatable for others

Anyone who’s ever put on or lost weight & noticed they’ve been treated differently…

Anyone who has had free school dinners

Anyone who feels they don’t fit.

Fat Chance is a celebratory, political, dark comedy using autobiographical content. This one woman play combines stand-up, live music and pop culture references to show writer/performer Rachel Stockdale’s story as a benefit class, fat actress. From audition nerves, throwaway comments from costume ladies to literally breaking a leg.

Follow Rachel’s weight-gain journey from size 8-18, looking at the pitfalls of trying to have it all in your twenties and what happens when a ‘career woman’ accidentally finds the love of her life at 21.

Creative Team

Writer/Performer: Rachel Stockdale
Director: Jonluke McKie
Dramaturg: Laura Lindow
Assistant Director: Humira Imtiaz
Lighting & AV Design: Simon Cole
Sound Design & Composer: WIlf Stone
Set & Costume Design: Amy Watts
Stage Manager: Lindsay McGlone
Mentor: Dr Charlotte Cooper

Previews: 

20 July: The Old Fire Station, Middlesbrough
22 & 23 July: Live Theatre, Newcastle – book tickets

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Pleasance Dome: 3 – 28 Aug, 10.30am – book tickets

Fat Chance is supported by Arts Council England, Durham Gala, the ARC Stockton, Live Theatre & Middlesbrough Council.

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