Still Here

by Mari Lloyd

World Premiere produced by 20 South Street in association with Still Here Productions and Grey Swan
Directed by Julia Stubbs

What happens when you have the feeling that you are disappearing?
Rhys just wants to box while his dad just wants a job. Yasmin is living with her nan while her mother wants to be looking over the plains of Uganda.
The children can’t speak to their parents, and the parents don’t understand how their children are feeling.
In Mari Lloyd’s moving and sharply funny new play, we see the world through the eyes of two 18-year-olds as they try to comprehend the actions of their parents and begin to understand that the choices of today can stay with you for the rest of your life.

Cast

Phillip John Jones | Emma Kaler.

Creative Team

Performance dates *World Premiere

7-25 March 2023 at the Jack Studio Theatre, London.

Suitable for 14+ | Content information: strong language throughout with a reference to self-harm and attempted suicide.

Post-show discussions accompanying this production
Friday 10 March: Writer Mari Lloyd, actors Phillip John Jones and Emma Kaler, director Julia Stubbs, and Asa Clark, a coach at Double Jab Boxing Club in New Cross, discuss the creation of the production and the role that boxing can play in young people’s lives.

Friday, 24 March: Writer Mari Lloyd, actors Phillip John Jones and Emma Kaler, and director Julia Stubbs discuss the production and how theatre can explore the rich sense of identity and culture within communities.

The playtext was published for this World Premiere by Grey Swan Press.

The programme for Still Here can be viewed here

Playwright Mari Lloyd grew up in the Rhondda Valley and still has family living there. She now lives in Merseyside, and after working in the NHS for more than 20 years, began writing.

Short plays include Evidence for Little Pieces of Gold at Southwark Playhouse and Lantern Writers Showcase Boss Plays 5, Charity part of Theatre for Snapshots by LEMAD Theatre at Rosemary Branch Theatre, What Friends Are For part of Love Lies by LEMAD Theatre at Hope Theatre, and High Tea part of The Directors’ showcase at Questors Theatre.

One-act plays include The Match for Liverpool Write Now Festival at Lantern Theatre, Last Tango at St. Leonards for Liverpool Write Now Festival at Unity Theatre, Three Women at Manchester 24:7 Festival, Bread and Circuses at Lantern Theatre, Looking Out for Jack part of Lantern Writers Showcase and longlisted for the Papatango New Writing Prize, and Elegy for Liverpool Scriptshop at Liverpool Fringe Festival.

She stays grounded and sane by engaging with a local boxing gym.

Award Nomination and Reviews or Still Here’s premiere

STANDING OVATION AWARD NOMINATION from London Pub Theatres for the performances of Phillip John Jones and Emma Kaler

★★★★ “Mari Lloyd’s poignantly funny play about two teenagers trying to find their way in an unforgiving and uncertain world is a real treat… Emma Kaler is beautifully nuanced as Yasmin… Phillip John Jones is wonderful as Rhys… Director Julia Stubbs skilfully takes Lloyd’s smart script and interweaves the stories of the two damaged teenagers seamlessly… Warm and funny, with two excellent performances, Still Here is hugely enjoyable.” Fairy Powered Productions

“Mari Lloyd writes with genuine insight and emotion, incorporating light-hearted jokes to loosen the script from getting too heavy. Her characters are realistic, genuine and likeable – their flaws explained with ample backstory to ensure the audience remain on side. Director Julia Stubbs allows the focus to stay solely on the actors and the script – the empty stage, minimal sound and lighting taking a backseat to allow the words to fully take hold… Emma Kaler (Yasmin) and Phillip John Jones (Rhys) are absolutely fantastic actors, each performing their monologues with heart-felt emotion… This is an endearing, enjoyable script performed by two wonderful actors with a long future ahead of them. Whether you’re a young adult finding your place in the world, or an older generation struggling to keep up with life’s many changes – this show works for all.” The Reviews Hub

“Mari Lloyd’s words take centre stage, delivered by two assured, talented young performers… Set designer Rachael Rooney has provided a raised square stage that evokes a boxing ring, and under Julia Stubbs’s direction, Rhys and Yasmin hang around waiting for their moment to come out of their corner to deliver or receive one of life’s punches… Phillip John Jones and Emma Kaler’s performances are moving and true. Kaler’s Yasmin has a just-controlled, riled energy, later showing strength and kindness, whilst Jones’s gentle Rhys is painfully lost, his feigned bravado falling away to reveal his fallibility. When their fight is over, they are changed but they are still here.” British Theatre Guide

“Mari Lloyd’s new play covers a lot of ground and director Julia Stubbs draws splendid performances from Phillip John Jones and Emma Kaler as the two troubled teens… I found myself very keen to find out what happened next to the two kids we’d grown to respect a lot and even love a little.” Broadway World UK

“Phillip John Jones’ Rhys is all ‘wrist and hip’ swagger but with an underlying uncertainty and naivety… Emma Kaler as Yasmin has a lovely light touch – even when swearing which her character does a lot – and she shows real confidence in her work… The play is neatly directed – and nicely lit – and Mari Lloyd brings her real-life experience of the Rhondda and of boxing in a gym to the fore… there is more than enough here to have expectations of future fireworks from Mari Lloyd and her two actors.” London Pub Theatres

Audience Reviews

★★★★★ “Excellent play and outstanding acting from both actors on stage. They captured our attention from start to finish. This play is worthy of a much larger audience and much better quality than a lot of stuff seen on television.”

★★★★★ “Still Here at the Jack Studio Theatre, was beautifully written and acted, taking you through an unexpected journey through the characters’ lives. A must-see for all!”

★★★★ “Still Here at the Brockley Jack Theatre. Play consists of 2 actors talking about their lives and what is expected/what they want from their futures. Neither really able to talk to their parents, both from differing backgrounds and for different reasons. I can’t fault the acting; they were convincing characters and the set simple. Enjoyed the production.”

★★★★ “This story of two youths, male and female, both at odds with their parents, meeting up in a boxing gym, and get as close as possible to a relationship without realising it. Both Philip John Jones and Emma Kaler are excellent in these roles, and it is well directed by Julia Stubbs.”

★★★★ “Well-acted two-hander – impressive. The story gradually unfolded and explained the anger, frustration, guilt, and distress. Interesting play.”

Press Articles

Still Here in London

A South Wales cast and writer premiere a new play

South Wales Life

Interview with Mari Lloyd

An interview with playwright Mari Lloyd on her play STILL HERE at the Jack Studio Theatre

London Pub Theatres Magazine

Interview with the actors & director

OffWestEnd talks to Phillip John Jones, Emma Kaler and Julia Stubbs of STILL HERE at the Jack Studio Theatre

OffWestEnd

I decide I need to box. I need this feeling.

Before its Premiere in spring 2023 on the London Fringe, Still Here had a research and development week in November 2022 in the writer’s base of Liverpool, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

As part of the R&D, we presented two script-in-hand readings of the play to invited audiences. Partnering with Competent Productions in the city for rehearsal space and the reading in their Competent Cellar and with 12 Quays Boxing Gym on the Wirral for the reading to ex-boxers and the local community.

Creative Team for the R&D

Phillip John Jones as Rhys | Emma Kaler as Yasmin.

Director: Julia Stubbs.

Reviews for Mari Lloyd’s previous work

★★★★★ “intimacy and impact” North West End on Evidence

★★★★ “An accomplished production – insightful, incisive and thought-provoking” North West End on Bread and Circuses

“Fringe Theatre at its best” Catalyst Reviews for Nerve Magazine on The Match

“Here is a play which half-comically, half-seriously addresses today’s unending obsession with NHS costs versus care. A timely choice.” Liverpool Echo on Last Tango at St. Leonards

Still Here

Award Nomination and Reviews or Still Here’s premiere

Audience Reviews

Press Articles

I decide I need to box. I need this feeling.

Reviews for Mari Lloyd’s previous work

Significant Other

Remembering You like something I’d Forgotten [2007]

Saving Myself

Tape