Billed as a “social work/theatre collaboration” inspired by research into the relationship between addiction and ‘parent identity’, SCORE tells the story of two young mothers pulled along in the slipstream of heroin addiction.

With family court magistrates reporting that 70 per cent of child removal cases are prompted by a drug or alcohol problem, usually in a lone mother, SCORE – which opens at the Royal Festival Hall next month – is a powerful depiction of dependency and female friendship. A work of fiction inspired by real life, which raises as many questions as it answers.

Inspired by Bournemouth University’s ‘Parent Story’ research project into addiction and parenthood by Dr M. Hughes, the award-winning show, which stars an all-female cast and combines chilling personal stories, critically acclaimed music with humour, will run at the Southbank Centre’s WHY? Festival from 22 to 23 October 2015, before returning to London from 10 to 14 November as part of Camden People’s Theatre autumn season.

For tickets from £12, visit southbankcentre.co.uk; 020 7960 4200