Albatross

"It's not just the choice
It's never just the choice
Choice is a fairytale."
Tattoos are forever. Almost. And at Noodle Soup Tattoo there are strict rules: No names unless they're dead. Nothing on the face. Nothing you might get sued for later.
When Jodie, a rough sleeper, asks for a free tattoo from apprentice Kit, her request is well within the guidelines. But Kit is still unsure, because they know only too well that getting inked isn't the only decision that stays with you for the rest of your life.
Albatross is a small but sweeping story about the past refusing to stay in the past. It was originally commissioned by Plaines Plough in collaboration with Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and is published here to coincide with its production at the Playground Theatre, London in October 2021.

Isley Lynn's play Skin A Cat was awarded Pick Of The Year at Vault Festival 2016 and nominated for four Off West End Awards (Most Promising New Playwright - shortlist, Best New Play, Best Lead Female, Best Director) for its transfer as inaugural production at The Bunker, 2016, then touring nationally throughout 2018. Her contribution to 15 Heroines (The Desert: Canace - A Good Story) earned critical acclaim, and her adaptation of War Of The Worlds in collaboration with Rhum And Clay enjoyed a completely sold out five week run at New Diorama Theatre and will tour nationally. Her play Revolutions is supported by Arts Council England, the MGCfutures Bursary, Old Vic Lab, Arcola Lab, and the Bush Theatre. Isley was the 2014 Script6 winner at The Space with Bright Nights, she received Special Commendation from the 2012 Soho Young Writers Award for Lomography, and Isley's monologue What's So Special was performed as part of The Get Out at The Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs (2014). Her critically acclaimed debut play Lean enjoyed an extended run at the Tristan Bates Theatre (2013). She was twice named Champion of Literary Death Match (Norfolk and Norwich Festival and The Book Club, London). Her European debut Sie Und Wir was performed in German at Werk X, Vienna. Her play Totty, written for Paines Plough and Tamasha's Come To Where I'm From: London, is available for free through the CTWIF app. Isley is a graduate of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme (2012) and Royal Court Invitation Studio Group (2013) and her work has been supported by writing programmes at the National Theatre Studio and Dorfman Theatre, Hightide, Soho Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, the Kiln, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Ovalhouse, Criterion theatre, and the Orange Tree Theatre.