Lecturer in Philosophy Dr Graeme A. Forbes has supported theatre company Theatre Re by acting as philosophy consultant for their recent production of BIRTH, which has been named Best Theatre Show of the Edinburgh Fringe by Theatre Weekly. The publication described the show as “one of the most beautiful and accomplished pieces of theatre to be staged at the Fringe”.

BIRTH is the story of Sue, Katherine and Emily, three generations of women from the same family whose lives are part of an invisible web they help to weave. It traces their journey of self-discovery, acceptance and hope. In staging the production, the company explored the idea of secrets in families, unearthing the parallels between our own lives and the lives of our parents and grandparents, and engaged with women and families who have experienced pregnancy loss. The collaboration with Graeme allowed the cast to explore questions such as ‘what is being passed down from one generation to the next’ and ‘when does memory begin’?

‘Pregnancy loss is experienced by a great number of women. What the parents go through is rarely discussed and often considered taboo. It is part of the realm of the ‘unspoken’, or the ‘unvoiced’. It is buried.’ describes Theatre Re’s website.

‘It was a privilege to work with this exceptional creative team,’ said Graeme; ‘I’m incredibly glad I had the opportunity to work with them. It was immensely rewarding to see how our conversations — about the passage of time, and how even when we repeat a pattern each moment in our lives is specific to us — got woven into the show. I’m so pleased that all their hard work has been recognised, and I’m sure they will have a very successful tour.’