'A Gym Thing' 2017 - Festival Round-Up

27 Shows. 27 Protein Bars. 5 Exhausted Cast & Crew &

4 Glorious Stars!

The dust has well and truly settled on The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017, and as the year draws to a close it felt fitting to look back on what a month it was.

So here is a little round up of Working Cast Productions debut show (we hope of many more) other 2017 news and an extra special thanks to all who helped us reach the festival.

Professional Photography Courtesy of Sally Jubb Photography

Audience reaction was fantastic and we took particular encouragement when receiving heartfelt backing and feedback from those who have suffered from or know someone with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) which the show centres closely on. We were right on point with our portrayal, and are delighted to further the conversation and raise awareness on this Mental Health issue.

​​"What the audiences had to say"​

@PeteStew_ Huge congratulations to all involved. It half made me want to go to the gym, half never go again!! #AGymThing is the best thing I've seen at the Fringe this year! Essential for anyone who has ever been conscious about their body!

@MarxFlynn Just saw @AGymThingPlay at the #edfringe and really blown away by how well it explored the psyche of someone with body dysmorphia.#one2watch

@Iam_BenThompson #edfringe show#15 @AGymThingPlay by @TomVallen honest and sweaty insight into gym obsession and #BDD. Great writing, cast and vest.

@CarlaVDS21 @AGymThingPlay Very powerful performance about bigorexia and body dysmorphic disorder. Important issues that aren't talked about enough!

@GraceLeeder Socks knocked off by @TomVallen 's performance and writing in @AGymThingPlay hugely impressive. How did they do that? Another story that needs to be told. #mentalhealththeatre

@TylerFayose Saw @AGymThingPlay starring @TomVallen @tarrickbenham @ItsBethanJames I loved it from start to finish, great acting, gripping work @edfringe

@Stacey_Bland Another excellent show, @AGymThingPlay by @TomVallen is not only a masterclass in working out but important & beautifully told theatre

@JeremyDrew @AGymThingPlay brilliant writing brilliant acting real issues #bodydysmorphic #bigorexia #EdVH @Ruraltouring

@EalesJess @AGymThingPlay, Go and see A GYM THING an intelligent, captivating play. Brilliantly written & performed by Tom Vallen

@WillStaniland Missing your workout whilst @edfringe ? @AGymThingPlay then this is a must . Superb tight flab free full-on intense production . #PB of day

@GNellispain Must see @AGymThingPlay articulate precise writing, genuinely fascinating content. A vital watch surrounding issues w bigorexia

@DaniSylviaMusic Absolutely astonished by the incredible talent involved in @AGymThingPlay at @edfringe. Go and see this incredible story!!

We also teamed up with Peble Arts, an anonymous feedback site to ensure we were presenting an accurate portrayal of Bigorexia and Gym Addiction.

We were thrilled to find that we were on point with our message and helping to further the conversation of Mental Health awareness.

See what our audiences had to say HERE

Reviews

"Should be required watching for anyone who finds themselves getting obsessive about self-improvement. A Gym Thing never hammers its message home, instead making its points with a brutal elegance."

Full Scotsman Review HERE

"The play succeeds in acting as a welcome contribution to a conversation about mental health and does so with fine dramatic effect." EdFringeReview

"The visual storytelling in A Gym Thing is intricate and engaging"..."an amazing treatment of a theme – a succinct and fascinating introduction to a problem that does not receive enough attention – a comparatively new phenomenon of bigorexia" BroadwayBaby

Personal Praise for The Cast, Crew & Creatives

"Bethan James’ part as Will’s love interest Bec is subtle and nuanced as she manages to match Will’s shifting character with an ease that makes her portrayal wholly convincing." EdFringeReview

"Special praise must be given to Tarrick Benham who plays two separate characters and does so with style and slickness - crafting two portrayals that may be both wildly different, but also still nuanced." EdFringeReview

"Tom Vallen’s superb playing of his own script... Will’s journey from slacker to “gym bunny” to someone who badly needs help dealing with body image is convincing, almost hypnotic in its intensity." The Scotsman

"Director Philip Scott-Wallace knits everything together into a tight, very watchable drama." The Scotsman

Phil also played a significant role in shaping the plays direction, patiently advising on many drafts of the script over numerous flat whites. Thank you Phil. You Rock.

"Movement director Jess Tucker Boyd deserves a big nod for her work with the actors" TheScotsman

Jo Gunnell our Super Stage Manager and provider of sugary sweets took a month off from wowing the world as a singer JOCEE to flawlessly tech our show for the month. A perfect team player who kept moral sky high. Thank you!

Writer Cordelia O'Neill (No Place For A Woman, Theatre 503, The Stone Inches, C Venues) casted her impeccable eye over some later drafts of the script. Thank you Cords, your talent has no end. x

An Extra Special Thanks Goes To...

If we haven't already showered you with adoration an extra special thanks must go to those who donated either their time or money to our Kickstarter to help us get to the festival, as cliche as is sounds we really couldn't have done it without you.

THANK YOU!

The production was also part funded by profits from Working Cast actors fund, which gives a % of company profit back to it's actors. Therefore any company that used our actors for casual work in 2017 you'll have contributed to this production realising it's full potential. If you'd like to know more about how we use Working Cast profits to produce and promote our actors work, please click HERE #HELPINGYOUTOHELPUS

Thanks to our corporate sponsor Pulsin

Pulsin very kindly sponsored the show with boxes of protein bars to hand out on Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile, helping to replenish audiences members of all ages. "As a long time user of Pulsin products I was delighted that they agreed to sponsor the show with their protein bars. 'A Gym Thing' aims to promote a healthy balanced approach to gym use and Pulsin products do exactly that. I have found Pulsin powders and bars to be the cleanest on the market, free from nasty fillers & additives that other popular high street brands are packed with. Therefore we were very happy to hand them out to the City of Edinburgh and to members of our audience.

Personally, as the show is set within a 60 minute workout I had half a bar 20 minutes before walking on stage for a slow release of energy, then the other half after the show to replenish protein stores helping to repair broken muscle fibres. My personal favourite is Maple and Peanut!" - Tom Vallen

Thanks to the BDD Charity for their ongoing support

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation has been a major backer of the show so we'd like to once again extend our thanks to Amoreena Campbell and all those at the BDD foundation for validyfying our work and extending your knowledge and support.

If you or you know of anyone who you feel may suffer with BDD then please do get in touch with the foundation. The condition effects people in all walks of life to varying degrees of severity and as we've found out 1 in 10 gym users in the UK suffer from the condition, so you can be sure you aren't alone. Their is a fantastic network of support available at www.BDDFoundation.org

Stay in Touch

If you'd like to keep up to date with all the exciting announcements we have in 2018. Then why not sign up to our mailing list below. ​

Merry Christmas from all at Working Cast. We hope you have a very happy creative and prosperous New Year.