In The Name of Love

by Susie Kimnell

In The Name of Love had 4 performances over 11 years ago (between the 7th of March 2013 and the 26th of May 2013) at The Cramphorn Theatre, The Leatherhead Theatre, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts and Cecil Hepworth Playhouse

This original play, written by a member of RDG, is set in a cheap American Motel in the 1990’s.

A tautly written two hander it explores the fascinating theme of the relationship between an abductor and his victim on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of her abduction when she was 6 years old.

Photos from the Leatherhead Festival production can be seen from the link https://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=4730&Action=_VC&id=126897002&ppwd=89288spk

This play reached the semi-finals of the All-England Theatre Festival at Chelmsford in May 2013 and was performed there with Paul Foster taking the role of He. It was narrowly beaten for a place in the English final.

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He - Adam Roberts

Aged 40+. He is a loner with extreme difficulty relating to his environment and dealing with people. He wants to create his own perfect little world with a girl who is there just for him .He tries to exercise extreme control and dominate his victim but behind his quickly fluctuating mood swings is a misguided weak man.

He is obsessively neat and speaks with mesmerising softness except when he loses his control. By kidnapping the girl he is trying to live out his fantasies but he has problems with closeness and touching. The little girl he abducted is growing into a woman the embodiment of which he deeply fears.

As she starts to exert her will he begins to give up on all his hopes and dreams and abandons any attempt to enforce his will on the girl. Finally he reveals to her the truth about who she was before her abduction.

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She - Susie Kimnell

Aged 16 ish. Lives with fear, frustration, insecurity and feelings of worthlessness. Her only attachment figure in her narrow controlled environment is her kidnapper. Her physical and psychological survival is dependant on the man who has been her life-line since she was 6 years old. Young children are prepared to perceive adults as an unquestioned authority but as she gets older she begins to rebel, but she still needs the consolation of human warmth. She tries to seize control and assert her independence by choosing her own music and controlling her eating by throwing up. As she becomes a young woman she reveals a stronger personality than he has and tries to punish him for all he has done to her. She realises that she has no life to protect and once she starts to fight back she lets all her repressed emotions take over as the play reaches its final bitter climax.

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He (performance on 26th May only) - Paul Foster

Aged 40+. He is a loner with extreme difficulty relating to his environment and dealing with people. He wants to create his own perfect little world with a girl who is there just for him .He tries to exercise extreme control and dominate his victim but behind his quickly fluctuating mood swings is a misguided weak man.

He is obsessively neat and speaks with mesmerising softness except when he loses his control. By kidnapping the girl he is trying to live out his fantasies but he has problems with closeness and touching. The little girl he abducted is growing into a woman the embodiment of which he deeply fears.

As she starts to exert her will he begins to give up on all his hopes and dreams and abandons any attempt to enforce his will on the girl. Finally he reveals to her the truth about who she was before her abduction.

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Director - Judith Dolley

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Stage Manager - Clare Pinnock

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Set design and construction and Stage Manager for Leatherhead Festival - John Godliman

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Author - Susie Kimnell

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Lighting - Carolyn Menteith

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Lighting - Nigel Greenaway

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Sound - Ian Santry

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Continuity - Jill Payne

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Continuity - Gillian Smithies

Winners Trophy Elmbridge Drama Festival - 2013
Best Actress Susie Kimnell Elmbridge Drama Festival - 2013
Stage Coach Trophy for an Original Work Susie Kimnell Elmbridge Drama Festival - 2013
Mark Wilkinson Trophy for Technical Merit Elmbridge Drama Festival - 2013
Winners South West Division Eastern Area Quarter Final - 2013
Technical Merit Award South West Division Eastern Area Quarter Final - 2013
Stage Presentation Award South West Division Eastern Area Quarter Final - 2013
Stage Presentation Award AETF Eastern Area Semi Final - 2013