THE PATIENT GLORIA Announces Further Details for Edinburgh Fringe Run

The Abbey Theatre announces further details about The Patient Gloria, a co-production with Irish artist, Gina Moxley, which receives its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. This critically acclaimed production, written by and featuring Gina Moxley, with direction by John McIlduff, will run at the Traverse Theatre from 1 until 25 August 2019.

A box office hit during Dublin Theatre Festival in 2018, The Patient Gloria, is a provocative and timely meditation on therapy and female desire. Inspired by the 1960s real-life films Three Approaches To Psychotherapy (The Gloria films), the production is a mash up of re-enactment, real footage, live experience and punk gig.

1964, California. A nine year old girl, Pammy, asks the question, "Mommy, did you ever go to bed with anyone besides daddy?" The child's mother, Gloria, recently divorced and struggling with her new single status, lies "No, honey."

Gloria later wrote in her diary "What was I supposed to say? Of course, dear. Everyone does? Oh shit."

Gloria's discomfort with her own sexual desire became central to the The Gloria Films. This unique project was the idea of Dr. Everett Shostrum, a psychotherapist, who directed and produced the films, capturing content alongside three other eminent psychotherapists who each worked with Gloria.

The Gloria Films were made with the initial intention of distributing them to schools and colleges to give psychology students an insight into what is usually a private process. The films were subsequently shown in movie theatres and on TV, betraying the privacy of the patient Gloria.

Gina Moxley performs in the production, joining choreographer and performer Liv O'Donoghue, who plays the role of Gloria, with Jane Deasy on bass guitar.

Writer and performer, Gina Moxley, said,

"I wish this show wasn't necessary but when governments start meddling with women's reproductive rights you know you're heading for trouble. My whole life has been ring-fenced by cathedrals of misogyny and we are not out of the woods yet. Not by a long shot. Actually, we're heading back into the woods, deeper and darker. Myself and The Abbey Theatre are psyched to be taking The Patient Gloria to the Edinburgh Fringe, the biggest, baddest arts festival in the world."

Neil Murray, Director of The Abbey Theatre, said, "We are delighted that audiences in Scotland will get to experience The Patient Gloria. It is raucous and revelatory. Led by the extraordinary Irish artist Gina Moxley, it thrilled packed audiences at The Abbey Theatre, during 2018 Dublin Theatre Festival ."

Gina Moxley is an Irish writer, actor and director. Her most recent play, The Patient Gloria, which she wrote and performed in, premiered at the Dublin Theatre Festival 2018 to great acclaim. She is also directing Spliced by Timmy Creed at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe (at the Traverse at Edinburgh Sports Club), a hit at Dublin Fringe Festival 2018.

Recent acting credits include, Adler and Gibb at Edinburgh International Fringe 2016 (Tim Crouch and The Royal Court) and LIPPY (Dead Centre) which won a Scotsman Fringe First, a Herald Angel and a Total Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2014. Other recent writing credits include the critically acclaimed Tea Set (Fishamble) which made its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015. Recent directing credits include, Sonya Kelly's The Wheelchair on My Face, winner of a Scotsman Fringe First, 2012 and How to Keep an Alien winner of Best Production, Dublin Fringe Festival 2014.

John McIlduff is a writer, stage director and filmmaker. He is co-artistic director of Belfast based Dumbworld creating works including the sonic installation NEST for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, The Irish Times Theatre Awards nominated Postcards from Dumbworld and the street art opera He Did What which will be presented at the Aldeburgh Festival and the New Wave Festival, BAM later in 2019. His debut feature film Behold The Lamb premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Liv O'Donoghue is an Irish-Norwegian actor based in Dublin. She trained and worked as a professional dancer for ten years before turning to theatre. Liv has worked with a number of directors and choreographers, touring across Europe, the USA and Australia. She has been a core collaborator with Dead Centre since originating the role of Josephine in Lippy in 2013, touring to the Young Vic (London), Abrons Arts Centre (New York) and the Schaubuehne (Berlin), among others.

Jane Deasy is an Irish performer and composer. A recent graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, she works across various forms including theatre, installation and music and, has performed with companies including Brokentalkers and The Abbey Theatre. She is a recipient of the Arts Council of Ireland's Next Generation Bursary and took part in Pan Pan's International Mentorship Programme in 2018. She is currently Artist in Residence in Dublin City Council's Albert Cottages.

The Patient Gloria has been made in association with Pan Pan Theatre Company and supported by Culture Ireland.

Photo Credit: Luca Truffarelli

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