A NEW play about relationships and how they don’t always work out will be performed in both Falmouth and Truro this week.

‘Shotgunned’ was met with rave reviews when it was performed in front of an intimate audience of 40 people at Falmouth University earlier this year, leading to it being put on at the Burrell Theatre in Truro on Friday, April 28 and The Poly in Falmouth on Saturday, April 29.

Written and directed by Matt Anderson, ‘Shotgunned’ tells the story of Dylan and Roz, two twenty-somethings searching for meaning in their lives, and tells the story of how they met, the good and bad aspects of their relationship, and what it is that eventually drives them apart.

Falmouth Packet: Dylan and Roz are two twenty-somethings searching for meaning in their livesDylan and Roz are two twenty-somethings searching for meaning in their lives (Image: Matt Anderson)

The story is told in a non-linear way, with its very first scene starting at the end of their relationship, and dips in and out of various points in their relationships, from their brea up to how they met, their first date and their first, and last, fight.

While the play isn't a full-on comedy, it does have a lot of humour sprinkled throughout and touches on real human emotions and, despite focussing on the breakdown of a relationship, is intended to be heartwarming by the time the curtain falls. 

Matt Anderson, who is currently finishing up a BA hons in creative writing, comes from an acting background himself having worked in Italy and with The Fringe until deciding it was the writing process that he enjoyed.

Falmouth Packet: ‘Shotgunned’ was met with rave reviews when it was performed in front of an intimate audience of 40 people at Falmouth University‘Shotgunned’ was met with rave reviews when it was performed in front of an intimate audience of 40 people at Falmouth University (Image: Matt Anderson)

Matt told The Packet: “I wanted to tell a story that was more about a breakup than a relationship, and explore that element.

“I wanted to kind of establish immediately to the audience that these two people you’re about to spend an hour with, they’re not going to be together at the end, they break up.

Falmouth Packet: The story is told in a non-linear way, with its very first scene starting at the end of Roz and Dylan's relationshipThe story is told in a non-linear way, with its very first scene starting at the end of Roz and Dylan's relationship (Image: Matt Anderson)

“It’s comprised of about twenty really short scenes, ranging from five minutes to about 20 seconds, and it just jumps back and forth in time.

“It tells their story, and you learn more about them and start to see why they broke up, but also why they were good for each other.

Falmouth Packet: The play focuses on the relationship between Dylan and RozThe play focuses on the relationship between Dylan and Roz (Image: Matt Anderson)

“It was kind of an experiment I had and involves a lot of personal experience, It’s quite closely tied to me, it’s a very personal piece but I’ve tried to create it in a way where it appeals to everybody and everyone can kind of take something from it.”

Shotgunned is playing at:

  • The Burrell Theatre in Truro on Friday, April 28, at 7:30pm
  • The Poly in Falmouth on Saturday, April 29 at 8:00pm