GAMBLE by Hannah Walker & Co get to Ed Fringe 2024

Hi, I'm Hannah and I've made a show about gambling addiction with wonderful people and I'd love your support to help me take it to Summerhall at Edinburgh Fringe for the month this year.

This show is incredibly personal to me and important. The gambling industry is exhausting and it makes me feel so angry. As does the cost of the fringe but not to the same extent...

Content warning: this page mentions suicide

Gamble

“★★★★ A shame-dispersing, stigma-squashing delight" - Broadway World

Gamble is based on a true story and inspired by interviews with industry experts, health professionals, people in recovery and their families.

It's a spangling whirlwind of flashing lights and big wins. A multimedia performance with integrated BSL that straddles theatre, comedy and live art. The show peers behind the glittery curtains of jackpots and big wins to reveal the complexities of addiction and the effects it can have on gamblers and their loved ones. The show explores addiction, gambling, loss, and resilience, all underpinned by love.

At the end of every show the audience will be provided with a QR code that links to a webpage with BSL interpreted information, helplines and links to other support groups.

"Fantastic, important, funny, moving, infuriating, brave play. Go and see this wherever it's on to support those suffering from, and affected by, this cruel addiction & to start to take down the hideous machine of the gambling industry" - an audience member

The Facts

The Gambling Industry makes £15billion per year in this country, according to recent figures.

The tactics used by gambling giants to ensure these profits are seen by many experts to be exploitative of vulnerable people. 86% of profits are made from only 5% of players- most of whom experience gambling-related harm and addiction.

The Gambling Industry spend £1.5bn on advertising every year – much of it is exposed to children.

In the UK there is one gambling related suicide every day.

Hannah Walker & Co

Hannah Walker & Co. creates autobiographical shows to open up conversations about social issues. Collaborators, Hannah Walker and Rosa Postlethwaite met at Queen Mary University, London, in 2011 and have been working together professionally since 2016. They connect with audiences by sharing the beauty, pain and humour found in everyday life.

Their first show An Evening with Savvy B (★★★★ London Theatre) looked at Hannah’s complex relationship with alcohol and was shaped by workshops & pop-up performances in North East pubs and social clubs.

They co-founded PUG, a performance club night in Newcastle and Gateshead. PUG programmed queer, community-driven and interdisciplinary performance (2016 - 2020). “Communal daftness interspersed with moments of beauty” - Exeunt.

Gamble Team:

Created & Performed by: Hannah Walker & Rosa Postlethwaite

Devised by: Hannah Walker, Rosa Postlethwaite & Faye Alvi

Directed by: Paula Penman

BSL Interpreter/ Performer: Faye Alvi

Production Manager & Lighting Designer: Craig Spence

Producer: Caroline Liversidge

Original Music: Jamie Cook

Deaf Consultant: EJ Raymond

Creative Developer & Digital Artist: Paul Trickett

Mentor: Amy Golding

Costume: Lou Duffy

The Figures

This 10k donation would be for:

£3000- towards accomodation for the BSL interpreter/performer and Technician

£2800- towards paying our Technician's salary

The show is very tech heavy and we need someone at every performance. It uses projection, live feed, and digital interaction, whereby our integrated BSL interpreter/performer and I appear simultaneously live “in the world” of an online gambling game and “behind the scenes.” This is to remind the audience that there are real people making decisions behind these huge industry brands.

£2400- towards paying the intergrated BSL interpreter/perfomer's salary

The integration of BSL is integral to the show. Many people experiencing gambling addiction who are BSL users struggle to access support.

£1000- towards marketing assets.

This show is internationally relevant and important - Interview with The Guardian pre-premier. This show is saying something urgent about the world. Compulsive gambling is a prevalent health condition that is still regarded as taboo. We need a great marketing campaign to reach as many people as possible.

£800 - towards wrap around events

We would love to be able to host coffee and cake events where people can share experiences and write letters to MP's if they want to.

Current trailer:

Our current BSL flyer by EJ Ramond

Thank you for reading.

Hannah and the Gamble team xxx