Critical Care brings the untold stories of NHS nurses to the stage in Mansfield

The extraordinary experiences of frontline NHS nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic will take centre stage in Critical Care, a moving and thought-provoking production written by Stacey Moon-Tracy.

Supported by Mansfield Palace Theatre since 2023, the project brings together years of research and first-hand testimony to shine a light on the personal stories behind the headlines. The production will be staged at Create Theatre, Derby Road, Mansfield, with audiences invited to experience a powerful account of the people behind the PPE.

Set during the pandemic, Critical Care follows four intensive care unit (ICU) nurses whose lives change almost overnight as COVID-19 sweeps across the UK.

Frankie, a newly qualified nurse, finds herself thrown into an unfamiliar and high-pressure environment. Morgan cuts short her maternity leave to support her colleagues, putting her own family at risk. Sam, a senior nurse and sole carer for her elderly mother, battles isolation both at work and at home. Meanwhile, ICU Sister Alex struggles to hold together her team, her family and herself as the demands of the pandemic intensify.

When one of their own becomes a patient, the boundaries between professional duty and personal life begin to blur. Behind their layers of PPE, these women face impossible choices about responsibility, survival and how much they can give of themselves.

At its heart, the play challenges the familiar portrayal of healthcare workers as heroes and angels, instead revealing the complex realities of ordinary people working under extraordinary pressure.

“We’re not heroes or angels. We are ordinary people trying to do our job.”

Developed in collaboration with nurses from across the UK between 2021 and 2023, Critical Care draws on first-hand testimonies gathered through PhD research. The result is an unflinching and compassionate exploration of the pandemic through the eyes of those who lived it — not just as healthcare professionals, but as women, mothers, carers, colleagues and friends.

Early responses to the play during its development stages have highlighted its emotional impact and the importance of telling these stories, with one nurse describing it as “raw and real”, while another said: “This validates and values nurses.”

Stacey Moon-Tracy, writer of Critical Care, said:

“Critical Care is the culmination of years of research and working closely with nurses. While the play does not attempt to replicate their experiences exactly, it seeks to lift the masks and offer audiences a glimpse into their lives, at work and at home. It explores the human stories behind the PPE, shining a light on the personal sacrifices, challenges and moments of resilience that defined the pandemic for so many frontline healthcare workers.

“If the pandemic asked nurses to care for all of us, then this play is, in some small way, an act of care in return. It exists because nurses were willing to share their stories, their fears, their resilience and their humanity.”

Written by Stacey Moon-Tracy, directed by Orla O’Connor and composed by Derek Nisbet, the production offers audiences an opportunity to reflect on an experience that changed lives across the country, while recognising the people and sacrifices that must not be forgotten.

Critical Care is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

The production is recommended for ages 15 and over. Tickets cost £8.50 and are available through the What's On pages or by calling Box Office on 01623 463133.