Fair & Felt Effects: two plays

This work features two contrasting plays from a distinctive new northern writer. "Fair" is a story of love and hate, inspired by events in Burnley and Oldham where the BNP has gained a foothold. A year after the race riots, a festival designed to unite the community serves only to entrench the divisions. When young lovers Railton and Melanie discover each other's politics, their relationship implodes. Set amidst the dizzying whirl of the fairground, the play sears off the skin of racism to explore both the town's and the country's search for identity. "Felt Effects" is Joy Wilkinson's first play. Joint winner of Soho Theatre's prestigious Verity Bargate Award for the Best Play by a first-time writer, it explores the seismic relationship between two half-sisters and their mother when they are forced together in the A&E ward of the local hospital. Tremors happen around us everyday and are so weak they are classified as 'Not Felt', but the effects of the earthquake now erupting under this family's feet are impossible to ignore...This double volume is published alongside the August 2005 premiere of "Fair" at the Finborough Theatre, West London, fast becoming a showcase for interesting new playwrights. The premiere of "Felt Effects" will follow later this year.