Joy Unspeakable at The Edge

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Joy Unspeakable at the Edge Theatre, Chorlton

6-7 September 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Joy Unspeakable at The Edge
Photography by Chris Payne. Design by Micah Purnell
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Thought-provoking and dynamic, Joy Unspeakable is the debut show from Greater Manchester-based theatre company, Ordinary Glory, exploring disordered eating through real-life stories.

The statistics around eating disorders are startling. With approximately 1 million women and girls in the UK living with the condition – chances are someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder.

Bringing together physical theatre, live folk and punk music, and four authentic testimonies, Joy Unspeakable is a potent and brave piece of gig theatre. Performed by an all-female cast, the show places the experiences of four women – each with a different eating disorder, and each at a different stage in their recovery – front and centre.

What stands out most about this show is that it has been developed in consultation with mental health and eating disorder experts from King’s College London, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, Young People’s Mental Health Research and Oxford Research Centre alongside real women’s lived experience.

Joy Unspeakable opens at The Edge, Chorlton, before touring to The Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, The Met, Bury, Pendleton Sixth Form College and Octagon Theatre Bolton.

Joy Unspeakable at The Edge
Photography by Chris Payne. Image design by Micah Purnell

Where to go near Joy Unspeakable at The Edge

Chorlton Library Exterior
Chorlton
Library
Chorlton Library

This cornerstone of Chorlton life is a Carnegie library, listed building and the second busiest library in the city.

Chorlton
Restaurant
Yane

Friendly neighbourhood restaurant in Chorlton, specialising in authentic Japanese cuisine such as donburi, katsu kare and traditional pickles, made in-house.

Chorlton
Shop
Chorlton Bookshop

A family-run bookshop in Manchester’s bohemian suburb, Chorlton Bookshop is a haven of great titles and unknown gems.

Horse and Jockey Chorlton
Chorlton
Restaurant
Horse and Jockey Chorlton

The Horse and Jockey is a popular gastro pub located on Chorlton Green, at the end of Beech Road, a beautiful building and a Chorlton landmark.

Chorlton
Bar or Pub
The Beagle

Helmed by the people behind Common and Port Street Beer House, The Beagle is one of the most popular bars in Chorlton.

Chorlton
Restaurant
Tea Hive

Tea Hive is simply the best breakfast in Chorlton. Sure, there’s nice places along Beech Road and the many (many) bars dotted around the area make a pretty good fist of it, but Tea Hive reigns supreme.

Beech Road, Chorlton
Bar or Pub
97 Chorlton

97 is a smart new cocktail bar from the team behind Tariff & Dale and The Lead Station, based on Beech Road in Chorlton.

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