SITTING (IN SILENCE) to Make Edinburgh Fringe Debut After Brighton Fringe Awards
Kitty Falcon's dark comedy, starring Patrick O'Donnell, explores mental health at Pleasance Courtyard.
SITTING (IN SILENCE), a new play by Kitty Falcon, will make its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut after receiving the Mid Street Lab Community Award and the Farnham Maltings Emerging Artist Award at Brighton Fringe 2025.
Set during a ten-day silent meditation retreat, the play follows an estranged father and daughter attempting to navigate their fractured relationship. While the retreat is intended to provide peace and reflection, the pair find themselves confronting years of unresolved emotions, misunderstandings, and unspoken truths.
Patrick O'Donnell (Vikings: Valhalla; REVENANT) stars as Dad, a participant who struggles to adapt to the retreat's rules and expectations. What begins as a clash of personalities gradually develops into a deeper examination of family relationships, communication, and loss.
Written and performed by Falcon, the play draws inspiration from her own experiences following the death of her father by suicide in 2015. Through a blend of comedy and drama, the production addresses topics including grief, addiction, parenthood, mental health, and healing.
“Sitting (In Silence) comes from a deeply personal place as I lost my dad, Joe, to suicide in 2015,” said Falcon. “Every week in the UK, around 125 people die by suicide, and men remain three times more likely to take their own lives. We need to find ways and places to facilitate more open conversations around mental health, something I aim to spark through my work.”
She added, “Since sharing the play, I've built incredible connections with audiences who've shared their own stories of loss and healing. It showed me how vital this subject matter is, and how art (and comedy) can transform trauma into something connective and hopeful.”
Developed through the Kiln Theatre's Listen Local Young Writer's Programme in 2024, the production was created in partnership with organizations including Dad La Soul, Start The Conversation, and Papyrus UK. These collaborations informed the play's exploration of mental health and suicide prevention while supporting its commitment to encouraging open dialogue.
Combining humor with more serious themes, SITTING (IN SILENCE) examines the impact of silence within families and asks how people communicate love, pain, and vulnerability when words feel difficult to say.
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