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Benched

Tink Flaherty

An image of Tink Flaherty sitting on a wooden bench in a council estate, facing the camera. They wear double denim, white socks and black loafers, and have a boxing glove on their right hand. Their brown hair is short, and falls slightly over their right eye. Around the bench are a pair of trainers, a glove, and a packet of Twinkies
Benched, Tink Flaherty. Photo by Christa Holka

Why do we treat strangers better than our friends and family?

Since 2018, Tink has been taking their bench out to public locations across the country and inviting strangers to sit with them, in a quest to find authentic forms of connection.  

Benched is a unique exploration of human relationships – the formative and defining ones with those close to us, and the incidental meetings with strangers that stop us in our tracks. Through their unique style of transgentle storytelling, Tink demonstrates the radical and transformative power of offering undivided attention. At once raw and impulsive, confrontational and gentle, Benched confronts intersecting issues of class, gender, neurodivergence and marginalisation, expanding performance tropes and challenging compulsory neuronormativity.  

Prepare for a tender, spontaneous and uncompromising insight into Tink’s world, told through mementos, stories and improvised exchanges.   

Created and performed by: Tink Flaherty

Also featuring: Abra Flaherty

Directed by: Rosana Cade

Mentor: Katy Baird

Sound editing by: Jo Jackson

Sound mixing by: Liz Helman

Movement director: Frauke Reinhardt

Dramaturgy: Daniel Oliver & Libro Levi Bridgeman

Access Support: Catherine Hoffmann

Produced by Artsadmin

Commissioned by Cambridge Junction

Supported with public funding from an Arts Council England’s Project Grant

For more information on this project contact Nora Laraki at nora@artsadmin.co.uk

Date Title Venue City
25 July 2024 Benched The Stables Theatre Hastings
22 May 2024 Benched SICK Festival Manchester
10–11 April 2024 Benched Cambridge Junction Cambridge
4 October 2023 Benched South Street Arts Centre Reading
18 August 2023 Benched Cleere's Theatre Kilkenny Arts Festival
2 July 2023 Benched What Shall We Build Here Festival, Toynbee Studios London
23 June 2023 Benched What Shall We Build Here Festival, Golden Lane Estate Community Centre London
26 April 2023 Benched Colchester Arts Centre Colchester
An image of Tink Flaherty sitting on a wooden bench in a council estate, facing the camera. They wear double denim, white socks and black loafers, and have a boxing glove on their right hand. Their brown hair is short, and falls slightly over their right eye. Around the bench are a pair of trainers, a glove, and a packet of Twinkies
Benched, Tink Flaherty. Photo by Christa Holka
An image of Tink Flaherty sitting on a wooden bench in a council estate. They wear double denim, white socks and black loafers, and have a boxing glove on their right hand, which they are gazing at and caressing with their left hand. Their brown hair is short, and falls slightly over their right eye. Around the bench are a pair of trainers, a glove, and a packet of Twinkies
Benched, Tink Flaherty. Photo by Christa Holka
An image of Tink Flaherty in a council estate, hoisting a wooden bench over their shoulder. They wear double denim, white socks and black loafers, and we see them from the back as they move to walk away from us
Benched, Tink Flaherty. Photo by Christa Holka
A photo of Tink Flaherty sitting on one side of their bench on the pebbled beach in Hastings with the sea and horizon behind them. They are in a denim outfit with maroon Dr. Martens.
Photo by Holly Revell
A photo of Tink Flaherty sitting on their bench with another person in conversation. They're on a high street with shops in the background.
Photo by Holly Revell
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