A Midlands-based, female-led powerhouse, is about to ignite the stage at Nottingham Playhouse with a question that will leave audiences breathless. Emma Oldham interviews Laura Turner, the artistic director behind Fury Theatre, about why they're asking such a bold question...
Would you rather sell your body or your soul?
This isn't just a question—it's a provocation. Artistic Director of Fury Theatre, Laura Turner has placed it at the heart of Body or Soul, a play designed to make you confront your deepest values. What matters more—our integrity or our physical autonomy?
Both dilemmas will explode onto the stage, taking the audience on a raw, emotional journey through the choices that shape us, our relationships and our closest friendships. Body or Soul promises an intense, gut-wrenching experience as characters grapple with their decisions and the ripple effects on those they love.
Founded in 2020, Fury Theatre lives by the motto “Stories told with fire” and Turner tells Left Lion how this ethos burns brightly in Body or Soul.
“Emotion drives everything,” Laura says. “Women are rarely given safe spaces to express complex emotions without judgment. We’re often told to sit down and shut up. This play is that safe space—for big emotions, for messy truths.”
What happens when someone you love crosses a moral line?
In exploring the sex industry, Laura offers a fresh, unflinching perspective. “Many women in this industry are unfairly dismissed, but they don’t all come from desperation or misfortune. Jess, the character who chooses to sell her body, does so from a place of agency. We’ve worked closely with women in the industry to ensure their voices resonate authentically.”
Laura also highlights the importance of not sidelining male perspectives. “I co-wrote the play with my partner, Steve Gillard, to balance both male and female viewpoints. We see how Jess’s choices impact Callum, her partner. What happens when someone you love crosses a moral line—or finds freedom in doing so?”
Having premiered at the Durham Fringe Festival, Body or Soul has evolved through audience feedback, sharpening its edge. Now, Nottingham is set to experience this fiery, confrontational work as it pushes its characters—and the audience—right to the brink.
Body and Soul plays at the Nottingham Playhouse on Wednesday 23rd of October 2024.
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