Stephen Hawking’s dead. Martin’s having a breakdown. And Ellie? She’s feeding the fish.
When Martin hears that the world’s greatest scientific mind has died, he’s tipped over the edge.
Who will figure out where we came from, and why we’re here?
Lucky for him, chance - or destiny - finds him in an aquarium with Ellie, a PhD student studying astrophysics. As the fish swim in circles, so too do these strangers, running through science, philosophy and theology as they search for the meaning of life - and whether there is such a thing at all.
Existential Fish and Dread is a comedy-drama by Pontyclun native Martha Reed, directed by (BORN) Gwenan Bain and presented by female-led company Steph Hartland Productions.
“...clever, moving and well performed.” ★★★★ London Pub Theatres
About Steph Hartland Productions
Steph Hartland Productions is the realised dream of London-born emerging producer Stephanie Hartland. Steph launched the company in 2019 with the aim of providing a platform for emerging creatives, focusing on taking new writing to regional audiences, championing women and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
About Martha Reed:
Martha is a young Welsh female writer for TV and theatre. She was one of 12 writers on the Channel 4 Screenwriting Course 2021 and is now developing an original TV idea with Tall Story Pictures. Martha is currently authoring a new season of BAFTA-nominated interactive crime drama game Dead Man’s Phone. Existential Fish and Dread is her debut touring play. Her second play, The Ghost of You, placed in the top 10% of a record 5167 submissions to BBC Script Room 2021 and has been long-listed for development at the Traverse. She is Chippy Lane Productions’ Writing Apprentice to BAFTA-winning writer Alan Harris, a position funded by Arts Council Wales.
About Gwenan Bain:
Gwenan is a Director and Stage Manager based in London. She was the Bread and Roses Theatre’s emerging director for 2018 and is now an associate artist with BolSHE, a creative collective that platforms the work of Welsh and Wales-based women.
