Drink Talking is a two-part series directed and presented by poet and playwright Damian Gorman that takes an unflinching look into the life and mind of an alcoholic. In the first programme, Gorman draws on his own experience, describing how alcohol became a form of escape from himself and how his addiction was rooted in a fundamental longing to be loved.
Told with great compassion, this episode traces his journey to sobriety, and the difficult truths he unearthed along the way. Gorman’s story doesn’t romanticise the pain of addiction, but he does suggest that suffering can deepen a person, stripping them back to the raw, essential self and leaving behind someone changed, but not diminished.
Drink Talking was produced in 1991 by DBA Television Productions and filmed by David Barker, the company’s founder.
Originally from Newcastle, Northern Ireland, Gorman has written for stage, television, and radio, including animation film The King's Wake. Beyond his creative work, he has worked extensively in communities affected by conflict, supporting emerging writers and helping foster inter-community understanding through shared stories and lived experience.