A BRUTALLY honest play surrounding the life of a young girl with anorexia is to be performed by a youth theatre group from Steeple Bumpstead. Hard to Swallow is an adaptation of Maureen Dunbar s award-winning book, Catherine, and is based on a tr

A BRUTALLY honest play surrounding the life of a young girl with anorexia is to be performed by a youth theatre group from Steeple Bumpstead.

'Hard to Swallow' is an adaptation of Maureen Dunbar's award-winning book, Catherine, and is based on a true story. It follows the story of Maureen's daughter Catherine and her struggle with Anorexia Nervosa through the eyes of her family.

Catherine has always been difficult when it comes to food and while she is away at boarding school she contracts an eating disorder. Arriving home one evening, it is immediately obvious that something is seriously wrong and Catherine is diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa.

The story follows Catherine's family as they try to come to terms with Catherine's anorexia and find ways to treat it and, as the plot unfolds, their desperation heightens as they struggle to deal with such a heart-breaking illness.

The play explores the deep impact that Catherine's illness has on those closest to her and the damage that anorexia can have on those relationships.

The Steeple Bumpstead Junipers group - ranging in ages from 14 to 18 - is taking Hard to Swallow by Mark Wheeler to The Junction Theatre in Cambridge on July 15 and 16. For tickets call the theatre on 01223 511511.

All proceeds are due to go to the charities, The Phoenix Centre and B-Eat, which help people to deal with eating disorders.