A Paisley councillor has welcomed a new play about Asbestos which is set to be preformed at Paisley Arts Centre later this month.
Starring Jonathan Watson (Only and Excuse, Two Doors Down) and Maureen Carr (Edith from Still Game) and written by award winning playwright Frances Poet, Fibres is a big-hearted and laugh out loud play about what it means to entwine our lives with another, in sickness and in health. The premise of the play is about Jack – a former Clydeside shipyard worker suffering from asbestosis, which he contracted while working and his wife Beanie who is nursing him only to find that she too has contracted an asbestos related illness through secondary inhalation of asbestos fibres while cleaning Jack’s works overalls.
Written by award-winning playwright Frances Poet, Fibres is a big-hearted and laugh out loud play about what it means to entwine our lives with another, in sickness and in health. A story told by four characters who show a very Glaswegian resilience and wit, the play asks can we ever cut the cords that bind us and who will catch us if we do?
The playwright carried out a lot of research into the issue of asbestos related diseases and how they impact on those with the condition and their families, especially when one of them also contracts a similar disease. This included spending time with Action on Asbestos to get a clearer picture of the extent of asbestos disease within Scotland.
Councillor Kenny MacLaren, SNP Paisley Northwest, said: “Fibres is a new play coming to Paisley Arts Centre on 22nd October which looks at the impact of asbestos related disease within a family.
“This is obviously an issue close to my heart from my time at Clydeside Action on Asbestos (CAA) where I worked as a researcher and helped establish a number of their support groups across Scotland. I also helped organise a campaign by CAA to successfully change the law in Scotland so that people with pleural plaques (an asbestos disease) could still sue negligent employers.
“Discovering you have an asbestos related disease is a very traumatic time for anyone and the support from organisations like Action on Asbestos can be vital.
“Fibres has an excellent cast and I hope as many people as possible can make it along to see this play”.
Phyllis Craig of Action on Asbestos, said: “The team behind this play are fabulous for taking up this particular subject. Asbestos related diseases can take up to 20 -50 years to develop after initial exposure to asbestos fibres. It’s important people realise that this is a current issue with more than 800 people affected last year alone.
“I hope this play can raise awareness of asbestos related diseases and the impact it has on people and their families and I would encourage everyone to watch this play.”
Fibres will be preformed at Paisley Arts Centre on Tuesday 22nd October 2019 and will cost £10. To purchase tickets for this event, visit renfrewshireleisure.com/fibres.