Medical comedy Heartsink to have world premiere at Riverside Studios

Heartsink, a new medical comedy by former GP Farine Clarke, will run at Riverside Studios in April.

The play follows GP Jeffrey Longford, whose cancer diagnosis leads him to move from doctor to patient and confront his understanding of medical care.

Clarke explains her prompt to write the play: “A doctor who’s a patient has insights into both sides; that’s not reassuring but terrifying and strangely, very funny. I know what it’s like to walk the wards donning scrubs and a stethoscope but learnt how it feels to lie in an institutional bed wearing an NHS nightie and paper knickers.

“I hear what the professionals say to me but listen for what they’re not telling me. I understand how important it is not to adopt illness behaviour, but at every turn the system emphasises the condition and strips away my identity.”

The production is presented by Unequal Productions. The creative team includes director Sean Turner, set designer Matteo Mastrandrea, lighting designer Chuma Lighting Design, sound designer Hattie North, designer Tom Mann, and casting director Ellie Collyer-Bristow Casting.

It will run from 21 April to 10 May, with a press night on 24 April.