Tiger Country By Nina Raine

York Actors Collective is heading into Tiger Country for its next production at Theatre@41 Monkgate in York.

The title of this doctors and nurses drama refers to a term used in surgery – when a surgeon operates near a big blood vessel they’re in dangerous territory and might warn the team: ‘Careful, you’re approaching tiger country’.

The play premiered at Hampstead Theatre in London in 2011and, following that sell-out run, was revived at the same theatre in 2014.
The What’s On Stage reviewer thought the play was “meticulously researched and totally absorbing” while the Daily Mail found it “pacy, action-packed and, in places, touching”.

Nina Raine spent months embedded as part of a urological surgeon’s surgical team, learning about the mechanics of a hospital and what makes doctors and surgeons tick.

Director Angie Millard says: “I read a lot of plays to find something that’s suitable for York Actors Collective to stage. After reading Tiger Country I thought, ‘wow, I must do this play’. It’s so different from anything I’ve done before.

“It’s about doctors which struck me as interesting as in so many plays you empathise with the patients. This play sees it from the surgeons point of view.”

The fast-paced play considers the doctors’ dilemmas as a range of clinical and ethical issues come under the spotlight in a busy hospital. Professionalism and prejudice, turbulent staff romances, ambition and failure collide in a drama about an overburdened health service that we all depend on, and the dedicated individuals that keep it going.

In the cast are Victoria Delaney, Madusha Ferdinando, Clare Halliday, Mick Liversidge, Xandra Logan, Laurence O’Reilly, Chris Pomfrett and Lucinda Rennison.

Several of the cast work in the health service in various roles – community nurse, ward nursing assistant and an EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) role in a hospital. That’s all helping conjure up a believable portrait of hospital life.

Angie said: “we consulted with a medical advisor and resus officer to help the team learn how to manage procedures. They were also shown how to mime stitching, draining a lung and general examination techniques. I don’t think anyone realised how tricky it all is.”

Play dates are 27-31 May 27-31 at Theatre@41 Monkgate in York.
Performances Tuesday to Friday at 7.30pm, Saturday 2.30 and 6pm.
Tickets available from www.tickets.41monkgate.co.uk