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

Roxy Lanes Launch Student Discounts

Roxy Lanes, the ‘Booze & Ball Games’ venues, have launched a new selection of student discounts, available to claim through an exclusive student loyalty scheme, every Sunday to Thursday.

Edinburgh Butter Company announces search for the Best Croissant in Scotland

The Edinburgh Butter Company is excited to announce the launch of Scotland’s first-ever croissant competition, open to bakers across the country.

Local Social Enterprise Tackling Youth Food Poverty on National Food Bank Day

On National Food Bank Day, Edinburgh Food Social invites the community to join in their mission of empowering children through essential food education.

Get ready to be blown away... Twisters returns to 4DX at Cineworld

Hold onto your popcorn, because Cineworld is thrilled to announce the whirlwind return of the blockbuster hit Twisters to 4DX screens nationwide, due to an overwhelming tornado of popular demand!

Lannan to host Midweek Recipes pop up by Jess Elliott

On Thursday 26th September, Lannan - Darcie Maher's Stockbridge bakery - will host a pop-up by Jess Elliott Dennison, food writer and founder of Elliott's, in celebration of Jess's new book.

The Force reawakens at Vue venues in Scotland this September as the Star Wars saga returns to the big screen

Film fans are invited to revisit a galaxy far, far away this September as every main Star Wars film brings some of cinema's most iconic heroes and villains back to the big screen.

Great Scottish Run: 4 weeks to go

Are you ready to take on Scotland's greatest running event at this year's AJ Bell Great Scottish Run in Glasgow on Sunday 6 October?

Freshers... this bar NEEDS to be on your bucket list

What better way to break the ice with your new flatmates than with some competitive fun and few drinks? Cue Social Darts at Flight Club!

Social Bite joins The Pitt with dessert pop up

Leading homelessness charity Social Bite today announced their dessert pop-up as the newest addition to an exciting line up of local food businesses at The Pitt, Granton.

Unique venue offers the perfect stage

Festival-goers attending the fourth Music at the Multiverse festival at the weekend enjoyed fantastic live music, sunshine and showers in one of Scotland’s most spectacular outdoor venues.

Thousands from Northern Ireland set sail for Scottish universities

Students go FREE with Stena Line on Cairnryan and Liverpool routes.

Nigerian eatery to celebrate anniversary with weekend festivities in Edinburgh

Bongou Cafe, Edinburgh's cherished Nigerian eatery, will commemorate its fifth anniversary this weekend with a celebration and a series of exciting culinary developments!

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh kicks off the semester with a new bar menu just for students

With a valid student ID, students throughout the capital can enjoy a range of bar bites and drinks to welcome them back to university.

NEW OPENING: The Shore, Edinburgh welcomes the arrival of Mara

The Shore district in Edinburgh has welcomed the arrival of Mara, a new relaxed waterside drinking spot anchored in Old Leith.

Edinburgh Cocktail Week returns for 2024 with its most exciting lineup to date

Featuring a 10-day programme of new experiences and festival features that promises to raise the bar for cocktail enthusiasts and fun-seeking festival goers across the country.

Tickets now on sale for Moulin Rouge! The Musical! at The Edinburgh Playhouse

Tickets are now on sale for the only Scottish dates to be announced for the first ever world tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Savour the iconic streets of Tokyo on a transformative six course culinary adventure with Six by Nico

Conceptual dining experience Six by Nico will transports guests to the vibrant streets of the Japanese capital with their next innovative tasting menu, Tokyo!

Fudge Kitchen staycation activities with FREE fudge for the whole family!

Whether you're exploring Edinburgh's attractions or looking for a sweet pit-stop, Fudge Kitchen's welcoming atmosphere and mouth-watering fudge are sure to be a hit with visitors of all ages.

Edinburgh bartenders announce the best pubs and bars in the capital ahead of new awards

After thousands of votes were cast for the inaugural Edinburgh Bar Awards, the top venues in Edinburgh's vibrant bar scene have been announced today.

Scottish Borders winter light trail, Monteviot Lights, returns for a second year

Prepare to be enchanted once again this winter as Monteviot Lights returns to Monteviot House & Gardens!

Join the Discoveries Panel at the Edinburgh Womens Fiction Festival

Aspiring writers and literature enthusiasts, prepare to embark on an enlightening journey into the world of publishing at the Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival.

Social Bite encourages Scotland to hop, skip or jump to help end homelessness

Participants can choose any novel way of racking up 100 miles this September to help raise crucial funds for those who need it most in the UK.

New Creative Director aiming to put the skip into The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and honour its roots for 75th anniversary

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s new Creative Director says bringing the music to 'life' and putting the 'skip' into the performances are the key aims of his new role.

The Aesthetics Club will open its doors in Stockbridge this autumn

A medical aesthetics clinic is bringing two cutting-edge treatments and Hailey Bieber's favourite skin care brand to Edinburgh as part of its recent expansion.

Scotland Women visit Edinburgh Zoo ahead of The Vodafone Series

Ahead of an action-packed September for the Scotland Women’s rugby team, players Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd and Eva Donaldson visited the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo.

Entertainers launch brand new Michael Jackson tribute show, Man in the Mirror

Today, on what would have been Michael Jackson's 66th Birthday, entertainers launch their brand-new show; Man in the Mirror – A Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Annual Salvesen Lecture at University of Edinburgh will address ADHD in Women and Girls

Distinguished Senior Consultant Physician and psychiatrist Lotta Borg Skoglund will present groundbreaking research which challenges outdated views on female ADHD.