Plug-In: 97+
97+ debuted last year at the Liverpool theatre festival and ended with a standing ovation. Tom Cain Theatre is now bringing 97+, to The Space UK for the company's debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The performances will take place from the 14th to the 19th of August, starting at 19:40.
In a gripping portrayal of resilience and trauma, the theatrical drama “97+” brings the untold truth of the Hillsborough tragedy to audiences, aiming to raise awareness and support survivors still grappling with its aftermath. The play, set in 2012, delves into the lives of Hillsborough survivors John and Steve, played by Colin Kilbride and Leslie Longley.
John, haunted by night terrors and emotions he bottles up, confides only in his wife Liz, portrayed by Claudia Molyneux. On the other hand, Steve seeks solace in the hospital and the bottle, navigating the turmoil alone. Despite facing numerous setbacks, both survivors remain committed to their quest for justice.
Written and directed by Tom Cain, “97+” originated as Cain’s Drama Dissertation at Edge Hill University in 2021. The play, originally comprising seven characters and two acts, has been adapted to a one-hour, three-character edition for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Following its debut success at the Liverpool Theatre Festival in 2022, where it earned a stellar ‘10/10’ rating, Cain established his theatre company, “Tom Cain Theatre.”
Tom’s dedication to telling this poignant story extends beyond the stage. He collaborated with the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance (HSA), a charity established by survivors that provides the Hillsborough Transformational Recovery Model, a therapy to aid other survivors in their healing journey. Interviews with HSA members were pivotal in crafting the play’s narrative, which sheds light on the enduring impact of the 15.04.89 Hillsborough disaster.
One survivor shared his emotional response to “97+”:
“A powerfully emotive and informative depiction of snapshots of lives still troubled by the horrors of Hillsborough. A great platform to help continue to educate people about the real truth of 15.04.89 and its aftermath.”
The success of “97+” prompted Tom to create a high schools-only edition in support of The Real Truth Legacy Project, an initiative aimed at including Hillsborough in the High School Curriculum with Liverpool City Council. As this moving drama continues to captivate audiences. offering a platform to educate and support those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy, fostering healing and understanding for years to come. We sat down with Tom to talk to us about 97+
Q: What role did interviews with HSA members play in crafting the narrative of the play?
Tom Cain: “In 2021, while conducting my play’s initial research, I interviewed approximately 10 members of the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance. Hearing the shocking accounts of what these survivors went through and are still going through with PTSD, I often asked them how this account of the event never made the news. The answer was that they didn’t want it to, until now. All interviews were kept anonymous, and my intention was clear that their responses would be used to create a theatrical piece for the means of education on the truth of Hillsborough. Their responses formed the storyline of 97+, but I included each of their answers in multiple characters so that it wasn’t as though one character was specifically based on one person. This ensured that the characters were all fairly represented, and the anonymous identity of the interviewees would remain confidential. I have had the privilege of meeting some members whom I interviewed in person at one of my shows. Hearing their words of appraisal meant the world to me. I feel a special connection with these members, as only we will know which parts of dialogue in the script are the exact quotes they delivered in the interview. It has also been great to meet fellow H.S.A members who, although I did not interview, still found the characters relatable.”
Q: How has “97+” become a platform for fostering healing and understanding for those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy?
Tom Cain: “Those members of the H.S.A whom I interviewed, who have now come and watched 97+, said that they struggled to watch it without feeling emotional, understandably as I have not shied away from how survivors have suffered from PTSD because of the injustice that has taken place. A lot of the dialogue is verbatim, so this will naturally cause them distress. Although, they have all praised the piece as a way of educating audiences that Hillsborough isn’t forgotten about, particularly as we are now pushing Hillsborough Law - A requirement that evidence and findings of major inquests must be taken fully into account at any subsequent criminal trials. Hillsborough Law would ensure that victims of public tragedies are treated with respect and dignity. It also suggests that bereaved families and ‘core participants’ at inquiries and inquests be entitled to publicly funded legal assistance and representation at the same level, or in proportion to, the resources available to the public authority, to ensure a parity of arms.”
Q: How does “97+” contribute to educating people about the real truth of the Hillsborough tragedy and its aftermath?
Tom Cain: “I created the character Liz (Hillsborough Survivor John’s wife) as a way for the audience to learn through her. Liz is the one who asks the questions; being a southerner, she didn’t grow up learning about Hillsborough in a supportive Liverpudlian community. It is also suggested that her Mum and Dad believed what The Sun paper originally wrote, that Liverpool fans caused Hillsborough, they looted from the victims’ bodies and urinated on them, which we know was all lies. Despite that paper printing an apology in 2012 during the criminal inquiry Operation Resolve that found original statements had been tampered with in an attempt to cover up what the Police themselves had caused. Some people still believe what that paper printed was the truth, so it is vital that my play’s story is shown, to educate audiences on what really happened. There are still victim chants today at football matches where rival teams shout disaster slurs to wind up the opposition. Not even just about Hillsborough, but there are chants on the Munich air disaster affecting Man United, Bradford City’s fire disaster, and I believe clubs need to do more to prosecute those fans who decide to chant about this.”
Q: How has “97+” extended its impact beyond the stage to raise awareness and support for survivors?
Tom Cain: “As well as our six performances to date of 97+ providing awareness and support for survivors, we have also raised funds online via our GoFundMe page, as well as a collection bucket on the night in support of the H.S.A, with donations going towards funding Hillsborough Transformational Recovery Model, a therapy designed by survivors for survivors who are struggling with their trauma. One performance was even converted into a Schools Only Edition for high school students to watch. This was in support of The Real Truth Legacy Project, a government campaign to add Hillsborough to the high school curriculum. We also raised money running in the Run For The 97 5k Event at Stanley Park in June 2023, a fantastic morning with hundreds of runners all in great community spirit, with organizations such as the Liverpool Foundation, Jamie Carragher 23 Foundation, BTR Liverpool, Everton in the community, and the Liverpool food
Words by, Megan McDonald