No Apologies
Marlborough Productions presents by Emma Frankland, directed by Harry Clayton-WrightAbout
No Apologies is a radical mis-remembering of Nirvana’s iconic 1993 MTV Unplugged concert.
After a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival in 2025 (winning the Bragi Award for creativity and artistic excellence and a Besties Award for new writing) this brilliantly witty and emotionally powerful show embarks on a major world tour.
Urgent and politically sharp, No Apologies is a spectacular collision between theatre and grunge, autobiography and alternate history, weaving together threads of pop culture with mythology and ritual, fuelled by the experience of coming-of-age in the nineties.
Written and performed by Emma Frankland, multi award-winning writer for theatre and TV. With spectacular direction from Harry Clayton Wright, featuring original music and an anarchic sound score by punk composer Keir Cooper, produced by Marlborough Productions - nationally and internationally recognised producers of queer-led, intersectional performance.
No Apologies is part of the Traverse's £1 Ticket Project.
Photography: Matt Crockett
No Apologies is commissioned by Marlborough Productions. Supported by Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, The Old Electric, Northumbria University and Arts Council England.
Reviews
★★★★★ 'An unplugged, queer seance for past loss, wrapped up in a powerful call for unapologetic trans hope for the future!' - To Do List
★★★★★ 'A genre-defying, intermedia performance blending live music, movement, poetry, and pyrotechnics. It’s raw, political, emotional and unforgettable.' – The Nerd Party
★★★★ 'This ruddy gorgeous show is a call to live your life on your own terms and to the very full, and whether you are trans or not, that’s a lifesaver in every way.' - The Stage
★★★★ 'A defiant and arresting show. No Apologies delves into the act of wishful thinking, deftly questioning the impact of what might have been. Frankland is a captivating raconteur…' – Fest
★★★★ 'Frankland is a formidable performer, totally focused on doing and saying exactly what she wants to do and say.' – ThreeWeeks
'This is precisely the kind of fearless, formally inventive, emotionally devastating theatre the medium needs.' - The Theatre Times
'Heartfelt, funny, dazzling, but also seamed with pain. There’s something uncanny about how her voice moulds itself to Cobain’s, bringing a crackle of vulnerability to the stage.' – Exeunt Magazine
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Credits
- DirectorHarry Clayton-Wright
- Sound Designer & Original Music CompositionKeir Cooper
- Lighting DesignerSimon Booth
- DramaturgyDavid Sheppeard
- CaptionsSubira Joy
- Costume and Curtain Design & ConstructionPhilip J Shaw
- Set DressingTamara D’Silva
- Photographer (lead images)Matt Crockett
- Access ConsultantLaura Edmans
- Flyer & Logo DesignCharlie Wood
- Trailer Filming & EditingRosie Powell
- Produced byMarlborough Productions and Emma Frankland
Behind the Scenes
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All performances captioned.
Audio described introductory notes are available here.
Captioned
BookCaptioning converts the dialogue and sound effects on stage into text which is displayed on a screen. This performance is currently sold out
Captioned
BookCaptioning converts the dialogue and sound effects on stage into text which is displayed on a screen. This performance is currently sold out