POLITICAL DRAMA WRITTEN BY QUEEN’S GRADUATE AMANDA VERLAQUE 

21 October 2021

Written by Amanda Verlaque (BA Economic & Social History/Women's Studies (1993), and directed by Rhiann Jeffrey (BA Drama 2014), Distortion is, according to the MAC promotional material, a ‘fictional take on PR spin, sexuality, and the personalities jockeying for position in a cutthroat political arena.’

Distortion had its world premiere online on Thursday 30 September, and is available on-demand until 11:59pm on Sunday 24 October.

It was filmed live in the Mac’s downstairs auditorium, and can be streamed from anywhere in the world by visiting https://themaclive.com/event/Distortion.

The publicity flyer for Distortion continues:

‘When a homophobic government minister resigns in disgrace, a brand-new political party fronted by a photogenic, yet shallow husband and wife team want his once-safe seat.

‘To secure it, however, they need a jaded electorate’s support.

‘Enter Jo Devine - out and proud PR guru - hired by the couple for the polish and sheen they need.’

With spells at BBC NI and BBC Scotland, Amanda Verlaque’s credits include the multi-award winning, BAFTA nominated BBC One drama Holy Cross and the Scottish BAFTA nominated BBC soap River City. Her published short stories have appeared in lesbian anthologies Summer Love (2016) and BLE Volume I (2017). She’s a Golden Crown Literary Award winner and Silver Medal winner at the Independent Publisher Book awards.

Local journalist Amanda Ferguson spoke to alumnae Amanda and Rhiann and to lead actress Mary Moulds in September. Profiling the key protagonists she wrote: 

Amanda’s career began as an arts and entertainment journalist writing for newspapers such as The Irish News. With over 25 years’ experience in the creative sector she has worked on  TV drama as a script editor, story liner, producer and executive producer for the BBC, RTÉ, Blinder Films and Tiger Aspect before turning her attention to writing.

Her plays have been showcased at Belfast’s Outburst Queer Arts Festival and published in flash fiction and short story anthologies. She recently executive produced On The Street Where We Live, a series of audio plays, also for The MAC and her play Lolly features in the series. This Shit Happens All The Time, about homophobic hate crime, will premiere at Belfast’s Imagine! Festival in March 2022, and Distortion produced by The Mac, Belfast, is currently available online worldwide.

David Grant, Senior Lecturer, School of Arts, English and Languages said:

"Amanda Verlaque’s complex and searingly intelligent new play, Distortion, is currently available to view online via the MAC website. With a blend of Pinteresque danger and Stoppardian sleight of hand, it manipulates its audience scene by scene through a series of ever more obfuscating layers of sexual and political intrigue, playing on our propensity for jumping to conclusions and leaving us ultimately with admiration on our eggy-faces at its narrative audacity."

Highlighting Rhiann’s career, Ms Ferguson continued:

Rhiann is a Freelance Theatre Director and Associate Director for Prime Cut Productions. In addition to her work on Distortion, Rhiann is also directing Class Man by Aaron Hickland. Recent credits include VERGE Season 2 for Prime cut Productions, The Pause Between Now and Next for the Irish Arts Centre, New York, in association with the Lyric Theatre, On the Street Where We Live, an 8-part radio drama produced by The Mac and Ensemble Colours, a large-scale community project developed with Prime Cut. Belfast 2050: Under the Albert Clock produced by the Lyric Theatre in association with Origin Theatre Company (New York Times Critics Pick), Life From Time, a short film by Caoileann Curry-Thompson, No Explanation a short film by Kyron Bourke, VERGE a series of new play readings for Prime Cut Productions, Glory: Desire for NI Opera Studio, The Right Twig for Fighting Words, The Tempest for Rose Bruford College and Everyday I Wake Up Hopeful, by John Patrick Higgins for Prime Cut Productions.

For tickets for Distortion visit: https://themaclive.com/event/distortion 

For general enquiries or to submit graduate news stories, please contact Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO).

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