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This one-woman show is very much a whole-team production.
Director: Andrew Breakwell
Movement Director: Kitty Winter
Sound Designer: Wayne Walker-Allen
Technical and Moral Support (Stage Management):
Edmund Sutton (London)
and for the development and launch of this production,
Ali Bakewell (Nottingham)
Performer: Liz Jadav
Poster photograph by James Middleton
Advance photography (Nottingham) by Ali Bakewell
Production photography (London) by Rio Genet Macuiza
PR by Matthew Parker
The Lion & Unicorn Theatre is managed by Proforca Theatre Company Limited. The Artistic Director is David Brady.
Thanks to: Omar’s mum, Nancy, for sharing her story; Omar and Rae for their words; Joel, Julian and Campbell at Nottingham Arts Theatre where this production launched; Andy Bakewell for customising the stool; Dickie Felton and Gav Cross for their encouragement; and Ellie, Emma, Su, Sue, Vikki, Hannah, Amanda, Katie, Jannine, Sarah and Veronica, whose stories enriched Suria’s.
A Beginner’s Guide to Widowhood was first performed on 1st October 2021 as part of the China Plate and Warwick Arts Centre ‘First Bite Festival 2021’ prior to a regional tour in 2025, co-produced and directed by Omar Khan. The story was written in partnership with the charity Widowed and Young (widowedandyoung.org.uk).
Performed by arrangement with Knight Hall Agency Ltd.
Company Biographies
Ali Bakewell retrained as a Stage Manager in 2003, after a career in teaching. ‘A touring stage manager is like a theatre Mum: Checking everything is safe and everyone has everything they need; lots of communication; fixing things that go wrong and sorting out problems; and providing tea and sympathy – and cake.’ Like most mums, her job has long hours and often requires clearing up other people’s messes. She loves it. There is nothing like the satisfaction of a job well done.
Andrew Breakwell has far too many credits to mention, over several decades and from Nottingham to Europe. Since 2012, he has been an Associate Artist at Nottingham Playhouse, where he was Director of Roundabout & Education from 1999. Most recently he has re-discovered Modern Dance classes, with other Senior citizens. Diversity is a continuing aspect of his work, reflecting his concerns for a democratic, equal society.
Liz Jadav first performed the role of Suria in Omar Khan’s 2025 production. Other theatre includes Hamlet (National Theatre); The Tempest (RSC); Pygmalion (Old Vic); Twelfth Night (Stafford Gatehouse); and Joking Apart and Better off Dead with Alan Ayckbourn (SJT). Also many animals, in work for family audiences, where she met Ali, Andrew, Kitty and Wayne. She first noticed Edmund on an unhappy fringe show: the calmest person in the building and a source of encouragement to all. Liz’s screen work includes Tristan White’s 2022 short Trish: As Seen on TV; Drake Doremus’ feature Next Life; and various (mostly brief!) TV roles. She voices the video game The Serpent & the Seed and played Gabriel in her church 2024 nativity.
Edmund Sutton has a physics degree from Bristol University. Technical management and re-lighting includes La Bohème, Maria Stuarda and Peace at Last (Opera up Close); Our Man in Havana (Creative Cow); Snow Play, Heart of Winter and Hansel and Gretel (Lyngo Theatre); Antigone and Helen (Actors of Dionysus); Shhh! and Trolleys (C-12 Dance Theatre); and several European tours. He has also worked for the Royal Opera House. His lighting designs include The Psychiatrist (Julian Bird); Chateau Farci (Crunch Productions); Lovers’ Vows, Mayflower and Queen Anne (Historia Theatre); Savage Beauty (Actors of Dionysus); The Dedication and Bonny and Read (Novanda); Little Red Riding Hood (Lyngo Theatre); Umrao – The Noble Courtesan (Asian Music Circuit); Sayat Nova, Fire Ring and Davit Bek (London Armenian Opera); Onegin and Tatiana, Handel Furioso, The Queen of Spades and The Emperor of Atlantis (Arcola Theatre).
Wayne Walker-Allen has been making music professionally since 1998. Work includes creating, performing, accompanying; contemporary dance, theatre, installation pieces; staff musician at The Rambert School, regular work for London Contemporary Dance School, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and the Richard Alston Dance Company; exploring new ways of composing and creating music and sound; and studying on the MA in Dance Research for Professional Practitioners at Rambert.
waynewalkerallen.co.uk
Kitty Winter is a movement director, choreographer and director; a lecturer at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance; a PhD (De Montfort University); and a staff director for Box Clever.
kittywinter.com
The team in Nottingham, clockwise from top left: Andrew (Director), Wayne (Sound Designer), Kitty (Movement Director), Ali (Stage Management), Liz (Performer); and, below, Edmund, who joined in London (Stage Management).
