One Hour Theatre Company presents two short plays for radio that respond to the 25th festival’s radical writing theme. Health and Happiness by Tom Hall confronts the corrosion of health services by impersonal bureaucracy and the everyday dynamics of fascism. Set in Argentina, but with a British tone, My Own Free Voice features Jane Hogarth in an understated exploration of life under military dictatorship. Both plays are directed by Victor Merriman, featured in I Live Alone as working-class Dubliner who takes another man’s medical appointment, and sets in train a series of unpredictable events reminiscent of the dark comedic writings of Flann O’Brien. Sound design, recording, and editing: WeZ Nolan.
‘I very much enjoyed the work, laughed a lot, and the combination of lights, spoken word and sound design activated my imagination to create each scene in my mind.’ (Audience comment on Anything for a Laugh WoWFEST 2024). Tom Hall will be present at the event and is happy to discuss his work afterward.
Tom Hall was born in Vermont, USA, has lived in the Mexican states of Vera Cruz and Chiapas and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland. He taught for several years in the Drama Department at the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama. Produced plays include A Dublin Mystery Cycle (CM&D, 2000), Raccoon (Cobalt Café, Dublin, 2001; Everyman Theatre Bistro, Liverpool, 2008) The Death of Zapata (Dundalk IT, 2004) and Boss (Meridian Theatre Company, Cork: 2008). Tom is collaborating with Victor Merriman in an ongoing original audio drama project which began with Bartleby: A Tale of Wall Street (WoWFEST 2021) and includes Anything for a Laugh (WoWFEST 2024) and Health and Happiness: I Live Alone and My Own Free Voice (WoWFEST 2025).
We encourage people to use public transport to travel to events where possible.
The following transport lines have routes that pass near Quaker Meeting House.
Bus: 15, 21, 471, 54A, 7
Nearest bus stop(s): College Lane (Stop HA) (Approx. 3 min walk), School Lane (Stop HB) (Approx. 3 min walk), Gradwell Street (Approx. 4 min walk)
Nearest train station(s): Liverpool Central (Approx. 3 min walk), Liverpool Lime Street (Approx. 8 min walk)
*These are difficult times. We know some people may struggle to afford full price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t afford to, please contact info@writingonthewall.org.uk. All queries will be treated in confidence.
Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BT
£5.00
Date: May 19, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm
Ends: 6:30 pm
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