The Serpent’s Tooth by Heather Dunmore is a new play which looks at fractured families in an age of entitlement, exploring the rising tide of grandparents being denied access to their grandchildren, and their children. Unlike America, the UK allows no access rights.

Kate has been denied access to her only daughter and grand-daughter and it’s driving her crazy. Liz is a wreck from looking after four grandchildren (enabling her own children to work full-time to survive) plus her 96 year old mother. Into the mix comes Bev, the unmarried, childless half-sister Kate never knew she had. Bev followed a career path but what happens when that’s gone? Liz may be exhausted but raising objections is dangerous. Kate’s objections fall on deaf ears as her loneliness, despair and disappointment send her spiralling into madness. Is this retirement in 2023?

Another Theatre Company, directed by Cathy Turner makes actor-centred physical theatre with minimal lighting and props. Productions involve the creation of stark, highly stylised and atmospheric images that underpin the text. A feature of the work is that pieces flow from one scene to another with the actors making the scenes new. At the heart of all productions is always humour (often black) and a strong message about the world we live in now.

Cathy and Heather have worked together before on “Blue” in 2002 and “Faceless” (performed at the Old Fire Station, Oxford in 2016).