Rachael's Cafe

Welcome to Rachael’s Café, where ‘everyone is welcome...no exceptions.’

When churchgoing, motorbiking Eric Wininger - loving husband and father of two - begins living his life as Rachael Jones, there are inevitable costs.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Rachael's Café is a one (wo)man play based on interviews with Rachael Jones, a transgender woman living on the USA's Bible Belt. While studying in Indiana on a year abroad, playwright Lucy Danser met Rachael in the little café she created after being turned away from job after job. For a homesick Lucy that café was the oasis that Rachael intended it to be and a friendship, and then a play, was born. From bigoted Texans to shocking family revelations via run-ins at airport security, Rachael tells her story with frankness and a great sense of humour. Described as ‘a tour-de-force’ (The Latest) Rachael’s Café ‘is a compelling portrayal of an ordinary person in an unusual situation, trying to do what is right’ (Fringe Review).

It has since been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe (2011), Brighton Fringe (2012), the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival (2012), and London's Old Red Lion Theatre (2015). Alongside performances Rachael's Café has hosted fundraisers, workshops and panel discussions about a variety of topics that address transgender rights and issues. These have included a fundraiser performance with pop-up café at Central School of School & Drama in aid of Gendered Intelligence, post-show Q&A's with Rachael Jones and a Casting Trans Actors Discussion Panel with guests Rebecca Root (BBC's Boy Meets Girl), Helen Belcher (Trans Media Watch) and Shelly Bridgeman (Stand-Up Comedian and Gender Identity Psychotherapist). 

REVIEWS

★★★★★ The Upcoming
★★★★ WhatsOnStage
★★★★ Three Weeks
★★★★ Theatre & Performance Magazine
★★★★ The Reviews Hub
★★★★ Fringe Review
★★★★ New Kid at the Fringe ★★★★ Islington Gazette
★★★★ ScotsGay ★★★★ Middle Peg Review

‘sensitive, quietly moving production’ The Argus

‘Danser’s debut play is something of a tour-de force’ The Latest

‘A real demonstration that the inside is more important than out.’ WhatsOnStage

‘Graham Elwell breathes life into a character that we rarely see onstage’ The Upcoming

‘Danser moves assuredly through a narrative of honesty, emotional betrayal and acceptance’ The Irish Times

 ‘Not without brilliant splices of humour throughout, this indelible play is a must see’ The Upcoming

BOOK THE SHOW

We don't currently have any dates upcoming for Rachael's Cafe as we are in the process of updating the script to represent the changes that have happened in Rachael Jones' life over the last two years. 

If your venue is interested in hosting the show please get in touch with Lucy at lucy@chatbacktheatreandcomedy.com