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Memoirs - 22nd may: 1pm, 6pm

Studio 2, Performance Centre
Stoke On Trent, University Of Staffordshire

A haunting and deeply personal show, “Memoirs” is a theatrical performance blending raw storytelling, music, and emotional depth. Split into three interwoven timelines, the piece follows Mike as he grapples with the echoes of his past and navigates his present struggles.

In the modern day (2000s), Mike sits in a therapy session, attempting to untangle the roots of his pain. These moments act as brief, fragmented interjections—a man desperately trying to make sense of his past before it consumes him entirely.

Flashing back to the 1970s, the same actor takes on the role of Mike’s father, Michael, a once hopeful man slowly crumbling under the weight of single parenthood and his worsening depression. The music of the era underscores his struggle—joyful, hopeful tunes clashing against his silent suffering. His battle with his own mind shapes the future of his son in ways neither of them could predict.

The 1990s reveal Mike Jr as a young man, still haunted by his father’s absence. Grief has left him fractured, and his attempts to find solace in a new love interest are overshadowed by his growing dependence on drugs. Music once again becomes a reflection of his inner turmoil—grunge and alternative rock mirroring his descent into addiction and self-destruction.

As the timelines weave together, Mike is forced to confront the painful truth: is he doomed to repeat the cycle, or can he break free from the shadows of his past?