Touching The Void
Written in 1988 before becoming a film in 2003, and now a stage adaptation, Touching the Void recounts the astonishing true story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates’ near-fatal climb of the West Face of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. It was a feat that had previously been attempted but never achieved, and one that would nearly cost both climbers their lives. When Joe Simpson fell badly, breaking his leg, he and fellow climber Simon Yates found themselves roped together, neither able to move to safety, and both frozen by their formidable surroundings and their loyalty to one another. Faced with the impossible choice between cutting the rope and continuing the climb, or potentially perishing with his friend, Simon makes a decision that results in unimaginable consequences for them both.
Image shows Josh Williams as Joe. © Geraint Lewis