During an almighty rainstorm, Vera Shrimp discovers she has a remarkable gift. She can read raindrops, each one having soaked up an emotion from those the water has come into contact with.

But as her family disintegrates, Vera's extraordinary ability takes on a darker and more urgent significance.

Part science lesson, part story-telling, The Soaking of Vera Shrimp is a poignant and playful solo show about love, grief and never giving up.

Alison Carr's play was the winner of the Live Theatre/Empty Space Bursary Award in 2013, and was premiered at Live Theatre, Newcastle, in 2014 and was subsequently performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

It is also available in the volume All At Sea.



'Alison Carr's touching, direct play is a reminder of how bad we can be at dealing with bereavement... The writing is particularly good on the casual cruelty of teenage girls, their dietary obsessions and the way the word "we" can be used to exclude... excellent'



'Heart-rending... The way that grief is portrayed throughout the production is innovative yet wonderfully simple... an often overwhelming emotional experience... impressively believable and truthful'