Going Hysterical at the Fringe
Dealing with issues of mental health, stigma and shame, Hysterical arrives at The Main Space at the Warren for two nights during the Brighton Fringe, on May 14 – 15.
A collaboration between Karis Halsall and HOAX, this dark comedic play blends bold new writing with clowning, puppetry and mime. Drawing on the creative teams’ lived experiences, Hysterical examines how gender and modern day pressures take their toll on mental health and questions whether societal structures mean we’re destined to fail.
Karis has drawn on the feelings of embarrassment and humiliation that surround mental health, which she believes come from a lack of understanding on the subject and arise due to the discomfort of openly talking about mental health experiences.
The production aims to spread a message of destigmatisation, and to promote courage in the community – giving people the tools and ability to talk about their own experience of mental health frankly, and openly.
Karis, who suffers with crippling depression while helping her brother who suffers from Bi Polar, has influenced the script around these deeply personal feelings. And, at the core of the show, is the message that just as everyone has physical and mental health, life and genetic factors can easily tip us out of balance.
The show will run at The Main Space at the Warren from 14 – 15 May and for more information on tickets visit www.brightonfringe.org