You know when you throw something really important away by accident?… I did this with my life”
Louise Marwood
Written and performed by ex-Emmerdale actress Louise Marwood and directed by Nick Bagnall, Rita Lynn is coming to Turbine Theatre in London’s Battersea Power Station complex running from the 23-27 Jan 2024.
Louise Marwood’s three and half-year-run on Emmerdale ended when her character was killed off in a car crash. Following this Louise started a car crash of her own.
Inspired by her wild endeavours she took to writing and so was born Rita Lynn – a hilariously dark cautionary tale following Imogen, a spiralling addict, who is teetering over rock bottom.
She has the lot – toxic boyfriend, weekend overdoses, waning dance career. In a moment of drug-fuelled madness, Imogen convinces a wealthy, depressed housewife that Rita Lynn, her recently invented alter ego, should be her life coach. Sounds like madness? It is, it was and it will be.
Charting Imogen’s descent into addiction, we encounter an eccentric entourage of characters. There is Dexter – her lover and enabler, Melian – drag queen, prescription drug addict, best friend and Buddy – Dexter’s son and the real love of Imogen’s life.
While this show might appear light on the surface, it is actually about the real-life struggle of addiction. Hidden underneath the comic facade is the dark soul of this show. A story of near misses, loss, grief and trauma. Capturing the fearlessness of facing a problem straight on, it plays the line between comedy and tragedy perfectly through the lightning-paced, challenging writing and performance of its creator Louise Marwood, a person who is brave enough to say she lost it all.
Rita Lynn is a universal story told through the lens of Louise’s own personal journey. It holds a microscope up to the human condition, the affliction of addiction and weighs the real cost of becoming a drug addict at the age of thirty-eight. At its heart it has a wish, a hope and a prayer – if she can recover, anyone can.
The Artiscape spoke with Louise Marwood about the play.
What made you want to write this script?
Marwood: I wanted to write this script to highlight the madness and despair of addiction. Addicts make it very hard to love them (especially when they are serial relapsers as I was) and I wanted to show what it feels like to be the addict. To be the person who is constantly letting people down while also towing a line between life and death on a daily basis. I still see addiction glamorised in television and film and I wanted to smash that. There is no glamour in addiction – trust me. It split me in half, stole my soul and very nearly killed me.
Can you tell us about the character you play?
Marwood: I play Imogen Wood, a struggling dancer who through a series of bad decisions and unhealthy behaviours, becomes a drug addict in her late thirties. This is what happened to me. She manages to convince a wealthy housewife that she is a life coach and thus her psyche splits and starts to eat itself. What we see unfold is the absolute despair of losing yourself to your addiction and the voice in your head that is trying to kill you.
How do you prepare for a role such as this?
Marwood: I didn’t need to prepare. I am her. I did not convince anyone that I am a lifer coach (not yet anyway) but the rest is 100% drawn from personal experience. This is my story.
What are you most looking forward to about performing in this play?
Marwood: I am looking forward to going back into the rehearsal room and developing it with Nick Bagnall. I have changed the ending since I last performed it and my recovery has become stronger. I am able to admit things that I wasn’t ready to the first time round. I am also very excited at the challenges that come with the space itself. It is a beautiful theatre and I cannot wait.
What do you think an audience will enjoy about the play?
Marwood: I think the audience will enjoy the authenticity of it. I have nothing to hide. I will be towing a very tight line between comedy and tragedy and that lends itself to a rollercoaster of emotions. You are gonna wanna strap yourself in for this one!
Rita Lynn runs at the Turbine Theatre from 23rd – 27th January 2024. To book tickets visit the website.
