A THEATRE company is calling for people to come forward with their mould and damp experiences to help inspire a new play.

Stockroom, which is based in Finsbury Park, is planning a play which will focus on a grief-stricken young woman living in a council flat.

Simultaneously, her flat gets damp and mould, which exacerbates her already stressful life.

“It might sound a bit like we’re writing a depressing play about mould, but that’s not really what it’s going to be,” said Lilly Driscoll, one of the writers.

“We want to be really well informed by speak­ing to people. We want to know how [having mould] has impacted them – like, if your home is being attacked by something, do you feel safe at home?

“How is it impacting your daily life and your children’s lives? On top of that, [for council tenants], there’s the whole thing of it being a council property and actually your home, and how that can impact your mental health.”

The company said that people need only come in for a casual chat, which will inspire and shape the play, rather than being drawn on directly as characters. They’re also looking for people involved with repairing damp and mould.

“We want to understand why it’s such a big issue that’s so hard to fix. Is it a lack of resources? Is it being taken seriously?,” said Georgia Crowther, another of the writers who came up with the concept, adding that she hopes the play will raise awareness around how serious the issue can be and end the stigma around it.

“It feels like admitting you have mould in your house is almost like admitting ‘oh, my house is dirty,’ but it’s not,” she said.

“I don’t think people realise the impact it can have on people – they think it looks horrible and it can get on your clothes.”

Ms Crowther added: “Mould is something that can give you anything from a basic allergic reaction, to going as far as giving you serious respiratory issues.”

• To contact the team at Stockroom about mould in homes, email hello@stockroom.co.uk

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