Having grown up in an alcoholic household myself, I was immediately drawn to this solo play, written and performed by Texan storyteller Stacie Burrows, and I wasn’t disappointed. She certainly has a story to tell, and she tells it with both vulnerability and strength.
Nurture or nature? Probably both. In truth, it doesn’t really matter. Alcoholism and addiction in any form is a family illness. Its effects ripple outward, pulling everyone in its orbit into the chaos. And if there’s an alcoholic in your family, there’s always a lingering fear that you might carry the “ism” too.
Burrows’ narrative unfolds through a captivating blend of live performance, video, and sound recordings, punctuated by beautifully crafted original songs, co-written with Sam Small. Her voice is a rich, warm country drawl that adds emotional texture and authenticity to the storytelling. The musical interludes never feel indulgent; instead, they illuminate the darker corners of her experience.
The journey begins after her beloved grandmother’s death. While sorting through her private belongings, Burrows stumbles upon clues that lead her to search for the grave of a “no good drunk” grandfather she never knew existed. What she uncovers is a generational thread of addiction, abuse, and unresolved trauma. We learn of her half-brother’s father, another alcoholic whose illness developed tragically in his son. Everywhere she looks, the pattern repeats: the “no good drunk” whose actions leave emotional debris in their wake.
But this is not a play about condemning alcoholics. Instead, Burrows shines a compassionate spotlight on the women who endured them, protected their children, and carried on with quiet resilience. Their courage becomes the emotional spine of this piece.
Perhaps the most moving element is Burrows’ tender concern for her own son. Watching her wrestle with the haunting question as to whether he is an alcoholic is heartbreaking. Yet her honesty is a reminder that, ultimately, she is as powerless over her son becoming an alcoholic, as the alcoholic is powerless over the bottle.
Despite the heavy subject matter, Burrows infuses the performance with warmth, humour, and a gentle self-awareness that keeps the audience engaged and emotionally grounded. There are moments of laughter, moments of raw pain, and moments of silent recognition for anyone touched by addiction.
No Good Drunk is an endearing and courageous piece, told with heart, pathos, and unexpected comedy. It’s thoroughly enjoyable, and if the subject matter doesn’t immediately grab you, her fabulous singing certainly will. An impressive, honest, and ultimately hopeful reflection on the messy, complicated legacy of addiction.
Review by Bernadette Lintunen
When Stacie Burrows set out to find the grandfather her mother never knew – “a no good drunk buried somewhere in El Paso” – her search led her to a mis-marked grave, a dive bar from the 1950s and a deeper understanding of the invisible wounds passed down through her family line. Set to the backdrop of West Texas dive bars and graveyards, No Good Drunk offers a vivid multimedia narrative with archival road-trip footage, recorded testimony and original songs. Burrows explores the cyclical nature of addiction and her fierce determination to end it with her generation.
Directed and Co-Devised by Katierose Donohue Enriquez
Songs co-written by Sam Small
NO GOOD DRUNK
Greenwich Theatre
28 and 29 October 2025
