Stage to recovery: How theatre is supporting people living with addiction

People who are in recovery from addiction have staged their first performance at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.

Support organisation Creative Change Collective, has been helping the cast turn their struggles into creative inspiration through drama and performance.

“It’s kind of a support group, with everyone in a similar position,” says Kara Turner, the play’s director. “We use drama techniques to help them work through their addictions.

“It gives them a chance to be creative with their recovery and to see their experiences reflected on stage by their peers.”

Rehearsals taking place at the Tron. STV News

The play is a recovery-themed production following the story of Tony, a character who battles addiction from adolescence into adulthood. With each cast member taking on a unique role, the performance allows everyone to explore a hidden talent and discover new potential within themselves.

“Post-addiction has a high road and a low road,” says Gary Donnachie, who plays a mentor supporting Tony through recovery. “If you want to take the high road, you need to find things to help you in that process and I found that onward drama does help.”

For Corey Pearson, taking part in the production has been a long-held dream.

“I never thought I’d get into acting,” he says. “It’s built my confidence, given me a sense of community, and given me the skills to be creative, and it gives me responsibility.”

Through shared experience and creativity, the cast have found more than just a stage; they’ve found purpose, confidence, and connection.

The star of the show, Claire Murphy, plays Tony – guiding the audience through the different stages of addiction, as other characters step in as mentors or critics, pulling her in opposite directions.

“I play myself at 57, looking back and reflecting on what happened,” she said.

“It’s like a dream sequence, I’m looking back thinking, ‘maybe if I hadn’t drunk, or taken drugs, or stolen money from my mum’s purse, things might have been different.’ But it shows it doesn’t matter.”