Alison Skilbeck’s Uncommon Ground

A superbly accomplished performance in a clever and poignant new play celebrating the human spirit.

Alison Skilbeck’s Uncommon Ground premiered at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe to glowing 5 star and 4 star reviews.

Alison Skilbeck plays six wildly different people, coping and connecting during one year on the Common, telling their unexpected tales of love, life, death, and downright dottiness, while a seventh character lurks mysteriously.

Written during Lockdown and partly inspired by glimpses of people Skilbeck saw on her daily allotted walk on Clapham Common, it is a response to the feeling of isolation during COVID, and the search for connectedness. It reflects on the human need for the solace of nature, for healing laughter and silliness, and for love in all its forms surviving.

Directed by Gareth Armstrong, with original music by Simon Slater (Constellations, Royal Court/West End/Broadway) and lighting design by Mark Dymock (Once, UK tour).

This is Alison Skilbeck’s fourth play, her previous plays “Are There More of You?”, “The Power Behind The Crone” and “Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London” have all been performed at The Swallow Theatre and toured in the UK, Ireland and France.

★★★★★ “This superb work must go further” – Journalist & broadcaster Mark Lawson
★★★★ “One of the treats of this year’s Fringe” – The Scotsman
★★★★ “Alison Skilbeck is very convincing using humour and great characterisation to captivate the audience” – One4Review
★★★★ “She’s an excellent writer and actor” – The Edinburgh Reporter

Alison Skilbeck’s Uncommon Ground
Written & performed by Alison Skilbeck
Directed by Gareth Armstrong
Sound design by Simon Slater
Lighting design by Mark Dymock
Produced by Jacqui Garbett for Hint of Lime Productions

Duration: Approximately 70 minutes straight through.
After a brief interval Alison Skilbeck has kindly agreed to join us in the bar for an informal Q&A.
Recommended age : 12+