Day Zero
A visceral account of a stem cell transplant told through poetry and sound collage. For BBC New Creatives.
Audio piece for BBC Arts
Originally broadcast 2nd August 2021 on BBC introducing Arts, 6music.
Day Zero is a surreal account of receiving and recovering from a stem cell transplant for Hodgkins Lymphoma. It is a personal re-telling, blending monologue, poetry and collaged sounds. All words written & recorded by Sarah Davis, including intimate hospital recordings she took whilst having her stem cell transplant in February 2018.
The treatment is extreme, a body taken back to day 0 by high does chemotherapy and infused with life -giving cells in order to recover. At the heart Day Zero is about how we process and remember medical trauma.
The audience will be guided through the disjointed narrative as the speaker reflects on the body that remains after medical trauma. On the body that must navigate the nuances of care, recovery and objectification as it seeks to reclaim autonomy.
With sound design by musician Edward Simpson.
New Creatives is supported by Arts council England and BBC Arts.
Sarah Davis - Writer
Emmy Beber - Script Editor
Edward Simpson - Sound Designer
John Hannon - Mastering engineer.
Be Patient for Spring
Spoken word version
An audio reimagining of Sarah Davis' text Be Patient for Spring - A meditation on Lymphoma & its subsequent treatments. This work went on to inspire Day Zero
The Original text was published as a 3 Colour Risograph print 2019
Words & Design By Sarah Davis
Edited by Emmy Beber
Layout by Edward Simpson