London Student Launches First Play At Edinburgh Fringe

Winston’s Wish Youth Ambassador Teigan Banks is launching her first play at the Edinburgh Fringe. '7 Steps to Feel Completely Happy Again' draws on her own experience of childhood bereavement.

Article Source: Winston’s Wish
Last Updated: 15 May 2024 9:47

There are not many playwrights, writers or poets who can boast that their first professional outing was at the illustrious Edinburgh Fringe Festival and yet 21-year Queen Mary University of London student and bereavement charity ambassador Teigan Banks is preparing to take her first ever play to the world’s largest arts festival.

As a Winston’s Wish Youth Ambassador, Teigan is a passionate grief advocate and shares her lived experience of childhood bereavement. “I mainly want to use my play to help others. The message of it, is basically that the ‘7 stages of grief’ are so misleading. I want people to know that even if their grief doesn’t polish into the 7 stages that it says when you google it, it doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you, or that you are grieving incorrectly. This play is sad but it’s also funny. A bit like life. A bit like grief.”

The play draws on Banks’ personal experience of childhood bereavement. She explains, “I lost my Mum at the age of 11 when she died from a brain tumour; I was so young and not many of my peers had experienced any sort of death let alone the death of their mum or a parent. I’ve spent so much of my life feeling quite alone in my grief. I feel like my play is just a creative way to channel my passion for grief advocacy.”

During lockdown, Teigan reached out for support to Winston’s Wish – the UK’s first children and young people’s bereavement charity which supports young people up to the age of 25 when their worlds are turned upside down by grief.

“I had support from Winston’s Wish back in 2020. During lockdown, my grief resurfaced in a way it hadn’t previously in my life. I was 18 at the time. Even though my mum passed away when I was 11, I think it was the first time in my life I had to sit with my feelings, without the busy, constant of life.

“This spurred me on, to becoming a Winston’s Wish Youth Ambassador. This started with just giving me a platform to write about my grief and my Mum. This has always been the best way for me to process all of this. I really have Winston’s Wish to thank for the act of writing about grief. I think if I hadn’t had starting articles about grief for the charity then I wouldn’t have been able to write my own play about it.”

Entitled ‘7 Steps to Feel Completely Happy Again, Banks’ work is an equivocal play of self-discovery of grief, death and dying. It questions if there really are seven steps to feel completely happy again.

Teigan explains how the play came to be selected for the Edinburgh Fringe.
“My university’s theatre company takes four plays to Edinburgh Fringe each year. You have to pitch your play and get it voted in. I had started writing my play at the point the pitch night was announced for Fringe and I had the outline of my play set out. Eight plays went for it and mine was one of the four that got voted to go!

“I previously put my play on with my university through the theatre society. We had two performances. I think after I watched those and had the feedback, I realised how exciting an opportunity Edinburgh Fringe will be. I think it hasn’t quite settled in yet, but I can’t really believe that I get to put on a play, that is so close to my own story of grief. I am excited to share it, and open people up to the topic of grief, death and dying through this play.

“It felt a bit strange at first, to hear my own words being acted out. Especially as I have some monologues that are things I have written about when my Mum was not very well and coming to the end of her life. I think I got so used to it in the rehearsal that it wasn’t until the university performances that I realised how emotional, the words, the acting and the play was altogether. I didn’t realise until I saw the final product of my play, the impact it had on the audience.”

Winston’s Wish has been established for more than thirty years and provides on-demand support and one-to-one counselling by referral to grieving young people. Winston’s Wish provides direct support to more than 60,000 bereaved young people each year, offers a range of free resources and advice to parents, carers and educational or healthcare professionals.

The charity also recently launched Talk Grief - the Youth-led Grief Network which provides a dedicated space for bereaved young adults (13-25) to find support, hear from others and feel less alone in their grief.

Audiences can watch Teigan Banks’ play, ‘7 Steps to Feel Completely Happy Again’ at Space 1, the Space on the Mile from the 12th of August across 6 performances up until the 23rd.

Tickets cost £10 or £8 for family or concessions. Further details can be found HERE.

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Edinburgh News

The Edinburgh Gin Distillery At The Arches

World-renowned distillers, Edinburgh Gin, has opened the doors to its brand new distillery at The Arches.

Acclaimed Chinese art exhibit brings vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations to textile heartland of Scotland

A highly acclaimed textile exhibit celebrating part of China’s intangible cultural heritage will make its UK debut when it goes on display at the Great Tapestry of Scotland!

Back by popular demand: Murder on the Midnight Express returns to Somewhere By Nico

Back by popular demand, Murder on the Midnight Express is making its highly anticipated return to Somewhere by Nico in Edinburgh and Glasgow for a limited time only.

Fort Kinnaird confirms festive opening hours

Fort Kinnaird has confirmed its festive opening times for last minute shopping and anyone planning a day out with family and friends over the Christmas period.

Australian superstar Jason Donovan makes a much anticipated return to one of his most famous roles

Jason Donovan makes a much anticipated return to one of his most famous roles: playing Frank-N-Furter in Richard O'Brien's anarchic musical, The Rocky Horror Show at Edinburgh Playhouse.

Vault City toasts first ever supermarket listings for stout with major UK name

Jingle Brew: Edinburgh-based independent beer firm Vault City now has its Gingerbread Latte Imperial Stout stocked by Tesco in time for festive season.

Room to Recharge: Kimpton Hotels in Scotland launch new wellness program, Stay Well

Kimpton Hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow have launched 'Stay Well', a new wellness-first initiative designed to help guests 'feel good, travel better, and stay well' while travelling.

Two Weeks Til Edinburghs Hogmanay First Footin

The countdown to the New Year has begun as Edinburgh’s Hogmanay prepares for four days of events to ring in 2025, running from December 29th to January 1st.

Wicked fans in Scotland invited to special Sing Along screenings at Vue this Boxing Day

After becoming one of the most popular big screen releases of 2024, Vue is excited to announce that an extra special sing-along version of Wicked is heading to the big screen this Boxing Day.

Funding win marks anniversary of Mackintosh acquisition

A generous package of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has been pledged to the National Trust for Scotland to celebrate the genius of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald.

Win a year of free flights as Loganair invites Edinburgh residents to share the joy of reuniting

Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, is spreading the joy of Christmas as it gifts free flights for an entire year for reconnecting with loved ones.

Caledonian Sleeper announces winners of photography competition celebrating UK beauty spots

Caledonian Sleeper has announced the winners of its photography competition aimed at celebrating the country's most scenic locations on the overnight train's iconic route.

Johnston Carmichael clothing collection is the right fit for social mobility charities

Johnston Carmichael has collected over one hundred of items of new and lightly worn pre-loved clothing for charities that help unemployed men and women back into work.

Newtongrange Guerrilla Gardeners steam home to victory at the ScotRail awards

Newtongrange train station has undergone a transformation this year, thanks to Newtongrange Guerrilla Gardeners, who scooped the Community Project of the Year title.

Scotch liqueur brand takes Christmas to new heights on Edinburgh rooftop bar

Scotch malt whisky cream liqueur brand Magnum, has launched a new winter wonderland experience on the rooftop bar of the iconic Cold Town House in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.

Garden Centre invites budding indoor gardeners to its stores

Dobbies Garden Centres is kicking off the new year on a green note, offering two free workshops at its Scottish stores this January.

Ticketmaster announces Breakthrough 2025 list

Ticketmaster has unveiled its much-anticipated Breakthrough 2025 list, highlighting the brightest up-and-coming stars set to shape the live music scene in 2025.

Edinburgh Zoo plea for locals to refrain from letting off fireworks at Hogmanay

Residents near the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo are being asked not to set off fireworks this Hogmanay, following the death of a baby red panda last month.

Blooming Fabulous! The Scottish Garden Festival arrives in 2025!

This family-friendly festival takes place in the spacious and scenic Hamilton Park Racecourse, offering a perfect setting for all ages to enjoy.

Success for first ever Soundhouse Winter Festival

Music fans packed out the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh for Soundhouse’s first ever Winter Festival.

Christmas Day Dining at Duck & Waffle

Celebrate Christmas Day with friends and family at Duck & Waffle Edinburgh, where the magic of Narnia comes to life!

Biffy Clyro, Young Fathers & Callum Beattie among winners at inaugural Scottish Live Music Awards

The Scottish Live Music Awards (SLMA) celebrated the best of Scotland's vibrant live music scene on Thursday night during a prestigious ceremony at Glasgow's Classic Grand Ballroom.

Dogstar Theatre brings Gideon Mack from page to stage

James Robertson's 2006 best-selling novel will be brought to life in early 2025 with a stage adaptation of The Testament of Gideon Mack from Dogstar Theatre Company.

Experience a World of Winter Wonder at Dynamic Earth this December

Dynamic Earth invites families to step into a world of winter wonder, and to experience the magic of the holidays like never before.

Iconic soft drink is hitting the road with the festive truck the nation has been waiting for

The battle of festive cola trucks has already kicked off between Lidl and Coke - but now the country's most iconic soft drink, IRN-BRU, has joined in!

Capital Theatres launches new partnership with The Secret Garden Distillery

Capital Theatres is delighted to celebrate the launch of a new bar partnership with The Secret Garden Distillery, a family-owned luxury distillery based in Edinburgh.

Ring in the New Year at Flight Club Edinburgh with the Ultimate Hogmanay Brunch

Flight Club Edinburgh is celebrating Hogmanay in style with a bottomless brunch to end all bottomless brunches and a gorgeous limited-edition cocktail menu.

itison founder calls for action to help children who will have nothing this winter

Founder of Scottish business, itison, Oli Norman, has spoken out about the 'devastating' level of poverty in Scotland this festive season.

Rediscovered Artemisia Gentileschi painting goes on display in Scotland for the first time

A rare surviving painting by Artemisia Gentileschi, the greatest female artist of her generation, is on display for visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Cafe Partners with local Dog and Cat Home for Launch of New Club to Support Pets in Need

Sip & Bark, the beloved dog-friendly café in Edinburgh, has announced a new partnership with Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home through the launch of an exclusive membership club.

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall

London Student Launches First Play At Edinburgh Fringe

Winston’s Wish Youth Ambassador Teigan Banks is launching her first play at the Edinburgh Fringe. '7 Steps to Feel Completely Happy Again' draws on her own experience of childhood bereavement.

Sponsored Links

Latest Edinburgh News

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Listings