The Project

R&D Phase 1

During the first Rehearsal & Development (R&D) phase, over 20 people shared their experience of being part of a weight loss group. They didn’t just bring simple positives and negatives to the table, they shared the full breadth of their lived experience.

Kate explored and developed characters, the overall story arc and started composing music and lyrics. The 4 days of online creation concluded with an online sharing. The audience included Kate’s of my peers from the arts sector and those from the weight-loss group community who had been interviewed for the musical. Watch a snippet of the sharing below.

The first R&D reiterated Kate’s belief that Off the Scales isn’t about promoting going to a weight loss group to lose weight to have a happier life. It’s about finding people who you can be authentic around. It’s about watching a group of characters grow in confidence. It’s about refusing to wait to be ‘thin enough’ to have an enjoyable life.

Outcomes

The first R&D phase allowed the team to explore and develop characters, the overall story arc and create the first stages of the music and lyrics. It has reiterated Kate’s belief that this show isn’t about promoting going to a weight loss group, to lose weight to have a happier life. It’s about finding people who you can be authentic around, your support network. It’s about watching a group of characters grow in confidence. It’s about not waiting to be ‘thin enough’ to deserve an enjoyable life.

R&D Phase 2

Thanks to further funding from Arts Council England, investment from the Stage One bursary programme, and great feedback from those who’ve engaged in the project so far, Off the Scales is currently in its second R&D phase. Now, the team is busy writing the show, developing the scenes with actors, and piecing all the ideas together into a full show.

Off the Scales isn’t just about Kate’s story, it’s about yours too. If this works resonates with you, we want to hear from you. Click here to find out how you can get involved.

“I think the overwhelming message of human and body positivity and diversity is brilliant.

— R&D sharing audience member