Theatre / Taylor Ayling
Bristolian theatre director’s new play inspired by his experience as a general builder
Taylor Ayling wears many hats: he describes himself as a working-class Bristolian theatre director, writer and producer, and is a visiting tutor at the Bristol School of Acting – but for the last five years has also been a general builder.
Although not autobiographical, his new two-act, four-hander play starring Ali Lidbetter, Benj Foster, Betsy May Wright and Kieron Edwards is inspired by those experiences.
Set in a knock-through of a semi-detached Clifton townhouse, it is, in Ayling’s words, “a crass, naughty and bombastic explosion of a play that exploits that fantasy you had when you were getting work done in your house: what are they doing in there?”
In rehearsal for Social Immobility
The action centres on “lovable but degenerate” Henry the carpenter (Foster), on the day that his dishonest and errant behaviour finally catches up with him.
“This is simultaneously my love letter and break up text to the construction industry”, explains Ayling.
“Because there is a dualistic nature to building site culture. On the one hand there is the freedom, the debauchery, the joy of seeing the labour of your day concretely in front of you.
The play will be at the Bristol Improv Theatre for three nights from March 19-22
“But then there is the other side – the racism, homophobia, sexism, transphobia. The crippling performance of masculinity that seems to suffocate some and liberate others.
“At the core, it’s about social mobility. How for some, the dream of social mobility becomes a lifeline to a better existence, and for others, is a mesmerising trap that keeps us stuck in a loop of unbridled hedonism.”
In discussing some of the motivations for writing the play, Ayling cites a 2024 report from the UK’s largest community of construction workers, On the Tools – that states the suicide rate for those in the industry is four times the national average.
Social Immobility – photo: Taylor Ayling
“I know firsthand many blokes who have struggled with addiction, anger management, homelessness and suicidal ideations”, he reflects.
“So I wrote this with the sincere hope that this production brings in people who would never go to the theatre and gets them opening up about their own mental health struggles.”
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Social Immobility: A Construction Site Farce is at The Bristol Improv Theatre on March 19-22 (not 20) at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.ticketsource.co.uk.
All photos: Taylor Ayling
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