Our Story
Vital Xposure was founded in 2011 by disabled artist and activist Julie McNamara, who led the company’s creative work and artistic vision for its first decade. Her companion on this journey was Isobel Hawson, a freelance theatre producer and arts consultant in the UK and overseas, who continued to support the company over the years.
Both JulieMc and Isobel were strong pillars in Vital Xposure’s growth, the search for vital stories from silenced voices to present on stage and survival through the highs and lows of a small, but mighty and uncompromising, touring company. In other words – and usually in JulieMc’s words – they were making mischief.
Thanks to their work, the company became an Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) in 2012, and a registered charity in 2015.
Some of the stories that the company presented on stage, continued their journey on screen in the UK and aboard, with extended recognition and accolades at film festivals.
After nearly a decade at the helm of the company, JulieMc stepped down from the Artistic Director role to pursue new adventures.
Notable Productions 2011 – 2021
The Knitting Circle
2011 – 2013 (Two UK Tours)
Written by Julie McNamara and directed by Paulette Randall
A chilling glimpse into the secret worlds and stolen years inside the asylums. ‘Persons fit to be removed’ cast out of sight on the fringes of society, were all these people truly Mad? Based on the testimonies of people who survived the asylums closed in the 1980s. Each of the actors was matched with people who lived or worked inside long stay hospitals.
‘An excellent show. Beautiful, clever writing with subtle landing of the stories….harrowing at times. I am still thinking about it.’ Charlotte Jones, Independent Theatre Council
Design by Jessica Worrall. Cast: Ali Briggs, Becky Barry, Caroline Parker, Deni Francis, Esther McAuley, Fiona Whitelaw, Penelope Freeman, Sanjiv Hayre, Vincent Jerome.
Caglar Kimyoncu, Visuals. Crin Claxton, Lighting Design. Theo Holloway, Sound Design. Hetty May Bailey, Deepa Shastri, BSL Consultants. Pauline Brandt, Audio Description. Samantha Nurse, Stage Manager. Alan Clifton, Assistant Stage Manager, Catherine Long, Marketing. Ruth Kennett, Admin & DSM
Originally commissioned and produced by Vital Xposure. For the continuing journey of this story, go to www.juliemc.com
Let Me Stay
2014 – 2015 (UK Tour and Internationally: New Zealand, Brazil)
Written by Julie McNamara and directed by Paulette Randall
A tender exploration of the impact of Alzheimer’s on family relations. Julie Mc recorded her Mother’s songs and stories, filmed and photographed her in all her glory, over many years.
‘Magnificently sung, presented with integrity and honesty. It grabs us by the heart.’ – Lexie Matheson, theatre review, New Zealand
Design by Libby Watson. Cast: Julie McNamara. Crin Claxton, Lighting Design. Çağlar Kimyoncu, Visuals.
Originally commissioned and produced by Vital Xposure. For the continuing journey of this story, go to www.juliemc.com
The Butch Monologues
2014 – 2019 (UK and Australia Tour)
Written by Libro Levi Bridgeman and directed by Julie McNamara
A powerful and humorous collection of secret stories exploring sexuality, vulnerability and desire, taken from interviews with butches, masculine women and gender rebels living worldwide
‘An excellent piece of theatre and more than that, it’s a very tangible vehicle for social change.’ Jude Kelly CBE (former Director – Southbank)
The Butch Monologues brought together a collaboration between Vital Xposure, hotpencil press: an independent publishing house co-founded by the writer, Libro Levi Bridgeman, and The Drakes.
In 2019 The Butch Monologues moved on from Vital Xposure. For the continuing journey of these stories, go to: www.thebutchmonologues.com
The Disappearance of Dorothy Lawrence
2015 (UK Tour)
Written by Julie McNamara & directed by Paulette Randall
It’s 1915. Dorothy Lawrence, a young journalist with aspirations to become a war correspondent, joins the frontline in France. She was never seen in public again. The piece investigated the ways society deals with women who step out of line, then or today, 100 years on.
‘This is the sort of play that reminds one that often the real theatrical gems are to be found outside the remit of the West End.’ – London Economic Review ****
Design by Libby Watson. Cast: Penelope Freeman, Suni La, Gareth Turkington, Simon Balcon, with Matthew Gurney and Becky Allen. Crin Claxton, Lighting Design. Çağlar Kimyoncu
Medicines’ Monstrous Daughters
(UK Tour – curtailed due to COVID 19)
Written by Omikemi and Julie McNamara. Directed by Penelope Freeman.
Two powerful plays, inspired by real life events, are woven together across time to expose unpalatable truths about the treatment of people deemed ‘different’ or ‘damaged’ and asks how much of our humanity do we lose in search of the cure?
Medicine, the extraordinary debut play by Omikemi, investigates contemporary experiences of the mental health system by women of African heritage – unravelling a hidden story of unethical medical experimentation and exploitation.
Monstrous Daughters, written by Julie McNamara, is a theatrical and humorous journey from the perspective of Mad Mary and Walter Riddle – a haunting story from two characters who evade ‘the specimen collectors’, bringing the grisly reality of body snatching to light and inviting audiences to question our attitudes towards difference.
Co-produced with Arc Stockton.
Design by Emma Tompkins. Cast: Lisette Auton, Shereener Browne, Fatime Niemogha, Eden West. David Abra, Lighting Design. Theo Holloway, Sound Design. Crin Claxton, Production Manager. Becky Brown, Stage Manager. Phil Glenny, Relights / Technical Stage Manager.
Blue Pen
2016 (Film installation)
Written by Julie McNamara. Directed by Çağlar Kimyoncu and Julie McNamara
A two-channel experimental short film about censorship and the disappearance of dissenting voices. The film pays particular attention to the voices of women journalists in conflict zones. The film and installation were created in collaboration with filmpro ltd.
‘If we don’t know about these histories, if we don’t know about what women have had to go through, then how will we learn our own history, and how will we learn to change the world in which we live?’, Audience Member, Blue Pen Premiere, Hackney Attic
Winner of Picture This…Film Festival Award for Best Performance
Originally commissioned and produced by filmpro and Vital Xposure. Filmed by Zeynep Dagli.
Voices from The Knitting Circle
2018
Directed by Julie McNamara
An award-winning documentary that presents the voices of people who lived and worked in inside care asylums, which closed in the 1980s. What reverberates is the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit, and the art of laughter amongst the tears.
‘Despite the hideous acts these individuals were subjected to, Voices imbues them with a magnificent fortitude that leaves their dignity forever intact.’ James Zaatka-Haas, Disability Arts Online
Cast: Penelope Freeman, Deni Francis, Mandy Colleran. Zeynep Dagli, Camera Operator & Editor. Chas De Swiet, Executive Producer. Rhiannon Kelly, Production Manager. Rachel High, Interviewer. Louise Fryer, Audio Description script.
Best Documentary over 30 minutes and Best of Festival Awards
Picture This ….Film Festival, Canada’s International Disability Film Festival (2018)
Produced by Vital Xposure. For the continuing journey of this story, go to www.juliemc.com
James Herny Pullen’s Giant Puppet
2017 – 2018
An giant puppet inspired by the life of James Herny Pullen, a long term resident of Earlswood Asylum and a truly gifted, self taught carpenter and model maker. Discovered in museum collections by Julie McNamara, Pullen’s story and the giant Admiral puppet he built to act as his guardian unearthed dark moments in the history of mental health support.
Pullen’s Giant (puppet) took part in the Liberty Festival, Queen Elizabeth, Olympic Park in summer 2017. A collaboration between Vital Xposure and Access All Areas. The puppet was built by Emergency Exit Arts Associate Tony Mason.
In summer 2018, Pullen’s Giant (puppet) was featured in Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village exhibition dedicated to ‘James Henry Pullen: Inmate – Invetor – Genius’.
Since autumn 2022, the puppet has found a home at Hackney’s Bingo Hall.
