U.S. Premiere of GUT by Frances Poet Will Present in St. Paul
Julie K. Phillips directs the Scottish psychological drama at The Hive Collaborative.
This May, Twin Cities audiences will experience the U.S. premiere of GUT, a gripping psychological drama by acclaimed Scottish playwright Frances Poet. Artist‑produced and presented by the artists of GUT, the production runs May 15-31, 2026, at The Hive Collaborative in St. Paul.
Set in pre‑pandemic Scotland, GUT explores the fragile balance between trust, fear, and parental instinct. When a young child spends unsupervised time with a stranger, a mother's imagination spirals into an obsessive series of "what ifs," blurring the line between reality and paranoia. What unfolds is an intense and unsettling examination of how fear can take hold-and what happens when the stories we tell ourselves begin to feel real.
Originally commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland and first staged at Traverse Theatre in 2018, GUT has been praised for its raw tension and emotional precision. This intimate Twin Cities production marks the first time the play has been staged in the United States.
The production is directed by Julie K. Phillips, an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and features a four‑person cast bringing the play's relentless psychological pressure to life.
Performance Details
Venue: The Hive Collaborative
677 Hamline Ave. N.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Preview: Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night: Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Pay What You Can (PWYC): Monday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Additional Performances:
May 21, 22, 23 and May 28, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Closing Matinee: Sunday, May 31 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/ZXbRht1lSFLwuIiySBIO
Cast
- Maddy - Dani Krivinchuk
- Rory - Nick Wolf
- Morven - Elizabeth Desotelle*
- The Stranger - Sean Dillon
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
Production Team
- Written by: Frances Poet
- Directed by: Julie K. Phillips**
- Stage Manager: Jeni Long
- Technical Director: Brittany Pooladian
- Lighting & Sound Design: Shannon Elliott
- Set & Props Design: Greg Vanselow
- Costume Design: Bronson Talcott
- Dialect Coach: Gillian Constable
- Marketing: Shannon Swanson
- Co‑Producers: Andrew Troth, Elizabeth Desotelle, Danielle Kiminski, Julie Phillips
*Associate Member of Stage Directors & Choreographers
About the Production
GUT is an artist‑produced, intimate theatrical experience designed for audiences who value bold storytelling and emotional intensity. The production will resonate strongly with theater enthusiasts, local arts patrons, and parents-particularly mothers-seeking challenging, thought‑provoking work.
