Croupier needs a caravan for her and her ex-gambling-addict grandad, but she’s skint.

She works Casino Zero, where pit boss Janet hounds her to eat Chum Bars for energy. Bizarre, poetic humour runs through this tale of loss, punctuated with melodic, loop-station soundscapes, crafted live with casino props.

This is a dystopian-future tale of grief and addiction. Inspired by two years of night shifts working as a croupier in a casino just around the corner from Nottingham Playhouse, this play highlights the social issues of gambling culture, caricaturing the industry through the eyes of a female, working-class writer from Nottingham.

Originally performed at Nottingham Playhouse, Neville Studio, on Wednesday 18 October 2023 as part of Amplify Festival (Headline Performance).

Written and performed by Bridie Squires

Dramaturg and Director - Siobhán Cannon-Brownlie
Sound Director - Rob Green
Designer - Maria Terry
Production Manager - Tom Robinson
Set Builder - Jack Poole
Chum Bar Designer and Maker - Alex Traska
Artist Wellbeing Practitioner - Nikki Disney
Videographer - Georgianna Scurfield
Photographer - Raphael Achache

Thank you to Beccy D'Souza and the team at Nottingham Playhouse, Shereen Hutchinson and the team at The Embankment pub, and all the workshop leaders who helped to deliver our Develop Your Performance Practice workshop series:
Kim Bormann
John Berkavitch
Nic Harvey
Tim Evans
Rob Green
Cassie Bradley
Kate Chapman
Jamal Sterrett

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Content Advisory Information: please note Casino Zero covers themes including addiction, animal harm, cannibalism, child loss, death, family loss, poverty, self-harm, sex work and suicide.