Surrender

Mother is in prison. Daughter has come to visit. Closely watched by security, they have one hour to undo the damage of eleven years of separation.

Surrender explores what it takes to survive in a punishing and dysfunctional penal system when your child is on the outside.

A collaboration between writer Sophie Swithinbank and director/performer Phoebe Ladenburg, the play opened at the Arcola Theatre, London, in 2024, before playing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Sophie Swithinbank is a playwright whose work includes: Surrender (Arcola Theatre, London, & Summerhall, Edinburgh, 2024); Bacon (Finborough Theatre, London, 2022; winner of Soho Theatre’s Tony Craze Award); Circle Game (Oxford School of Drama, shortlisted for the Phil Fox Award 2020); Even In Arcadia (longlisted for the Verity Bargate Award); The Fellowship (Picturedrome, University of Northampton); Where There Is Smoke (National Theatre Learning); Come Inside (Bush Theatre, London) and The Superhero (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith).

She teaches Playwriting at the University of Northampton.

Phoebe Ladenburg is an actor, director and theatre-maker.

Her play Surrender, co-created with the playwright Sophie Swithinbank, was premiered at the Arcola Theatre, London, in 2024.