I first wrote Live June in the summer of 2023 as a part of Wakefield LitFest’s festival of Plays. Myself and 7 other writers were commissioned to write a 15 minute play inspired by a stimulus given to us from local business and communities around the Wakefield area. Mine was: “A city needs music like it needs people” given to me by Long Division.

It was a statement I agreed with from the beginning. From it grew the first version of Live June. I often describe Live June, the first and second version alike, as a love letter to my platonic relationships. Both the two characters, Yorkie and June, are a collage of people who have impacted me. And specifically of one person who I would not have gotten through 2023 in one piece without. In truth I can’t really pin it down to one thing. I wrote it during an intense period of complex grief, in 2023 it felt like I had everything swept from under me - as If somebody had gone into my room and started breaking things. Tearing up my posters, lighting the bed on fire, smashing everything I had loved, cherished, and collected. All I could do was watch from the hallway. To put it simply. Write what you know as they say.

So on the other hand, I also like to say it was a love letter to grief, to addiction, to rock bottom - where you’re carrying on by whatever means necessary, whether or not they are the best choices. But it doesn’t matter, because at least you’re carrying on. Both can be true, if you’re writing a love letter to something you never just write one and leave it. If you’re in love, there’s too much to condense.

I could say it’s also a love letter to the anger stage of grief, which I believe doesn’t get enough recognition.

Spoilers, or not, because it’s in the first scene, and the description of the play- but I left Yorkie’s death ambiguous. I never decided why. I wanted it to be open-ended so the audience could project their own sense of loss and grief onto Yorkie in whatever shape or form that might take.

Then came the birth of Noisy Cow Theatre Co. I wanted to rewrite Live June to a 1 act play and perform it again, and, the now Creative Director, Natasha Lunt wanted to start a theatre company. So, that’s what we did. In a month I had completely re-worked and re-written Live June. I approached a friend of mine, John Broadhead, who I had worked with previously, about directing it - he said yes. Then we got the wonderful Patrick Gregan on board as our Yorkie - I played June.

It was the most challenging production I had done. Not because it was my own writing, it was easy to surrender control, and obviously easy to learn the lines. But because of the personal themes woven throughout, I had also realised I had written such a bloody tricky set of circumstances and emotional journey for an actor to take on board. But our team of three absolutely smashed it. On the 21st of September 2024, Noisy Cow Theatre Co. debuted and we performed Live June. In honesty, I left feeling numb. I always struggle with holding myself to high standards and expectations and that had leaked in a bit. But it wasn’t necessarily that, I felt numb because it was done. It felt as If I had been on stage performing some form of wake. However a few weeks later, the numbness turned into peace - and I felt grateful I had been able to take such a horrifying year and turn it into something beautiful. Something that other people had connected and resonated with, which made them feel seen and experience a sense of catharsis. That’s what it's all about really innit?

I could write more and more about the writing and rehearsal process, more in depth thoughts, and my love for Patrick as Yorkie and John the Director (and they do deserve it) - but I feel what I’ve said has best encapsulated the vibe of Live June and what it took to create it.

Lots of love, Arwen Dale x