In this time travel romance, Syd is at once seduced by and suspicious of the shape shifting Tobias, as he launches his new product. Hot and Smoking drama about why we still use tobacco. Winner! Best Audio Fiction Standalone, Sydney Webfest 2023, Winner Best Audio Fiction Standalone Apulia Web fest 2023; Winner for Best Narration for an Audio Fiction Podcast… (Ell Potter).
Listen on:
Prepare to be hooked… it can be addictive: a play about smoking and vaping. Tapping into desire itself, this romance of smoke and time travel is a 4 part audio-drama, which explores the alluring and devastating effects of the global tobacco usage.
Tobias and Syd is made by 2BU Productions. It is a collaborative project, created by a team of arts professionals and performers and supported by young ambassadors and members of the community, who have contributed to an online series of talking head videos, available to view on: Insta: tobias_and_syd and Tik-tok: tobiasandsyd. You can also find us on Facebook, Insta and Twitter: @2buproductions
Funded by Arts Council England and UKRI ESRC Council
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Syd, a young anthropologist, is hiding, somewhere secret, because she let herself ‘get trapped’ by something or someone.
Months earlier, Syd watches a confident, alluring man called Tobias, deliver a public talk. Tobias tells how his product is failing in the market place and how he hopes to revive it. Syd, in spite of herself, is intrigued...
In Part 1 of Tobias and Syd:
Tobias was played by Sion Daniel Young, and Syd by Ell Potter
Written, Directed and Produced by Elspeth PennyThe Dramaturg and Executive Producer was Sara DaviesThe Sound Recordist and Editor was Iain HunterComposer, Performer of Music by Matthew Sheeran
Funded by Arts Council England and UKRI ESRC CouncilTobias and Syd is a 2BU Production.
Winner! Best Audio Fiction Standalone, Sydney Webfest 2023, Winner Best Audio Fiction Standalone Apulia Web fest 2023; Winner for Best Narration for an Audio Fiction Podcast… (Ell Potter).Rio Webfest Official Selection Best Podcast Fiction and Best Director. Selected for Hollywood Series Webfest. LA Webfest 2023 Nominee, Minnesota 2023 Official Selection, Cusco Webfest 2023 Official Selection. For Baltimore Next Media Web Fest, Nominated for Best Dramatic/Slice, Best Podcast Director, Best Actor (Sion Daniel Young), Best Sound Design.
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Syd meets Nell, a barrista, and gets a cigarette from her – she’s getting more addicted. The ‘breath voices’ start to haunt her.
In Part 2 of Tobias and Syd: Tobias was played by Sion Daniel Young, and Syd by Ell Potter. Kezrena James played Joan and Nell, and John Donne was Joseph Tweedale. Breath voices came from members of the cast and production team.
Written, Directed and Produced by Elspeth Penny
The Dramaturg and Executive Producer was Sara Davies
The Sound Recordist and Editor was Iain Hunter
Composer, Performer of Music by Matthew Sheeran
Funded by Arts Council England and UKRI ESRC CouncilTobias and Syd is a 2BU Production
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Syd is now deep in to the world of Tobias, how can she make the best of the situation she is in? Where will she time travel to next?
In Part 3 of Tobias and Syd: Tobias was played by Sion Daniel Young, and Syd by Ell Potter. Kezrena James played Nell. Columbus was played by Joseph Tweedale, and the newsreader was Gaia Ashwood. Breath voices came from members of the cast and production team.
Written, Directed and Produced by Elspeth PennyThe Dramaturg and Executive Producer was Sara DaviesThe Sound Recordist and Editor was Iain HunterComposer, Performer of Music by Matthew Sheeran
Funded by Arts Council England and UKRI ESRC Council
Tobias and Syd is a 2BU Production.
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Nell has a few things to say to Syd. Syd isn't well. Will Syd get out in time?
In Part 4 of Tobias and Syd: Tobias was played by Sion Daniel Young, and Syd by Ell Potter. Nell was played by Kezrena James, and Harry by Joseph Tweedale. The announcers were Gaia Ashwood and Joseph Tweedale, the teenagers were Aaron Donovan and Reuben Orr and the Doctor was Joseph Tweedale. Breath voices came from members of the cast and production team.
Written, Directed and Produced by Elspeth PennyThe Dramaturg and Executive Producer was Sara DaviesThe Sound Recordist and Editor was Iain HunterComposer, Performer of Music by Matthew Sheeran
Funded by Arts Council England and UKRI ESRC Council
Tobias and Syd is a 2BU Production
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Credits
Tobias: Sion Daniel Young
Syd: Ell Potter
Nell/Joan: Kezrena James
Columbus/ John Donne: Joseph Tweedale
Harry: Joseph Tweedale
Newsreaders: Gaia Ashwood, Joseph Tweedale
Teenagers: Aaron Donovan and Reuben Orr
Breath voices: Cast and Production Team
Written, Directed and Produced by Elspeth Penny
The Dramaturg and Executive Producer was Sara Davies
The Sound Recordist and Editor was Iain Hunter
Composer, Performer of Music by Matthew Sheeran
Co-production advisory panel: Charlotte Bailey, Arthur Burston, Andrea Hernandez, Aggie Nyagari, Sol Okasha, Evie Shortman, Jack Owen, Bede Burston, Lois Barton, Miles Chambers.
Young Advocate: Elisha Westmore
Photos and Videos: Tom Sparey, Arthur Burston, Nick Sutton
Illustration: Maria Herreros
Additional thankyous for all the wider help, support and additional material from more people that can be mentioned. Thanks to Andrew Russell, Alice Malpass, David Richmond, Deasy Bamford, Theatre Orchard, Julie Peel, Becky Condron, Elisha Westmore, our invaluable advisory group – Arthur Burston, Charlotte Bailey, Bede Burston, Aggie Nyagari, Evie, Sol, Andrea Hernandez, Jack Owen. To our early stage exploratory cast – Kirsty Cox and Chris Pirie and the audience that chose this play. Also to Miles Chambers, Angie Belcher, 2BU's non-executive advisory board, Fiona Matthews, Paul Appleby, Barny Hole, Justine Schneider. To Innovate Edge Uk, Heather Wright, Saikat Ahamed, Aisha Ali, Mya-Rose Craig, Lee Hutchinson and the MShed, The Island, The Puppet Place, Lois Barton, Clevedon School drama department and students, First Nation producer Jim Compton, the first Indigenous screen summit at Rocky Awards 2022, Jean Rankin, The Bristol Packet, Tess Davidson, Raffy Vanderwal, Elizabeth Rahman, Kate Binnie, Karing Silver and Louis Laurence from Tobacco Tactics group, Alex Gapud, Matthew Chapman from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Angie Athay-Hunt and the Open Door adult drama participants at Theatre Orchard and Havi Carel.
Special thanks to those in Breathe Easy Groups who wrote Breath letters, as part of Letter to My Breath, Life of Breath Project whose voices inspired and are heard in this play. Also to our funders at Arts Council England and ESRC IAA.
Winner! Best Audio Fiction Standalone, Sydney Webfest 2023, Winner Best Audio Fiction Standalone Apulia Web fest 2023; Winner for Best Narration for an Audio Fiction Podcast… (Ell Potter).Rio Webfest Official Selection Best Podcast Fiction and Best Director. Selected for Hollywood Series Webfest. LA Webfest 2023 Nominee, Minnesota 2023 Official Selection, Cusco Webfest 2023 Official Selection. For Baltimore Next Media Web Fest, Nominated for Best Dramatic/Slice, Best Podcast Director, Best Actor (Sion Daniel Young), Best Sound Design.
Tobias and Syd is a 2BU Production
Go to the Tobias and Syd website