about tending
What is Tending?
Tending is the first play to use verbatim theatre to reveal the real experiences of nurses working in the NHS today. Based on over fifty interviews with nurses of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities, Tending immerses you in their day-to-day lives: all of the camaraderie, hilarity and heartbreak.
Weaving these voices into a set of three singular narratives, we offer a visceral and powerful journey through the corridors of Britain’s overstretched hospitals. We learn about these nurse’s daily routines, about the jokes they tell each other, and their favourite patients. We learn about the bureaucracy and paperwork, but also the moments of tenderness that tie the ward together. We witness the trauma of the COVID pandemic: their horror and grief but also the silent solidarity between them. We watch as they dance together to help hold onto themselves, and each other.
This is a play set on the fault lines of our health service, created with the community that holds it up. It asks the audience an essential question: When the system’s under pressure and lives are on the line, who cares for the carers?
Where did the idea come from?
The idea for Tending came out of years of conversations between El Blackwood, a playwright, and her oldest friend, a Paediatric ICU nurse. Best friends for over two decades, they realised that raw, honest and truthful accounts of nursing in Britain are never heard. Tending's aim is to change this, and advocate for proper care of the community that cares for us.
I'm nurse, how do I get involved?
We have a fantastic network of nurses that have generously supported the show in different ways. Many have shared their stories, come to see it, and spread the word. If you'd like to be involved, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.
How do I support the project?
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported Tending so far. This includes everyone who gave financial support, gave their time and skills, as well as support in kind.
There will be further performances of Tending in the second half of 2024. We'll post more information about how to support this in the near future.