Learning to Swim on an Ironing Board is a new piece commissioned by HOME theatre in Manchester, as part of their annual Push Festival, aimed at promoting emerging creative talent across the region. I caught up with spoken word artist Conor A. to discuss his new show and the impact fibromyalgia has on his on his career as a creative performer.

“Learning to Swim on an Ironing Board is a comedy story-telling show about therapeutic eavesdropping, which my therapist (known as Terry the Therapist) recommended. It’s about how going out, listening, and looking at the world a little differently. Fibromyalgia had created a complicated situation where I was in pain and fatigue much of the time. My personal attitude towards the world was a little bit off because I was spending all that time in an emotionally tense state. Terry told me to look, and listen, for something…