WHO CARES

By Matt Woodhead

ASSISTANT PRODUCER

LUNG

Supported by Arts Council England, The Lowry, Gaddum, Curious Minds and The Oglesby Trust

‘The alarm rings. I take a breath. Then it starts’

Sitting at the back of the bus, skipping the lunch queue and skiving lessons. At school Nicole, Jade and Connor are just like everybody else. But when they get home, things are very different. 

Nicole started caring for her mum when she was four. Every morning Nicole helps her get washed, put on clothes and eat breakfast. Jade has always cared for her brother, but she never expected to look after dad as well – now she juggles two lots of appointments, two lots of prescriptions, two lots of assessment forms. Connor cares for his mum. But he doesn’t like to talk about it. 

Adapted from real-life testimonies, this bold and pertinent piece of documentary theatre examines our failing care system, the impact of austerity and what happens when a child becomes the parent.

Project History

Made in partnership with The Lowry & Greater Manchester Charity, Gaddum and its Salford Carers Service, Who Cares premiered on a short UK tour in Spring 2019, after which it ran at Summerhall at Edinburgh Fringe. The show received huge critical acclaim and enjoyed multiple sell-out shows, and it was the recipient of numerous awards including the esteemed Sit Up Award for Social Impact. Who Cares then went on to tour the UK alongside one of LUNG’s signature social campaigns to advocate for young carers.

Photography The Other Richard