Linnea Langfjord Kristensen’s The Real is set to make its world premiere at The Cockpit Theatre—a play which shines a light on the tough realities of mental health struggles in the modern day.
Directed by Alan Fielden, this new production invites audiences to reflect on the psychological impacts of societal pressures but also to rejoice in their own personal journeys of success and self-discovery.
The story centres on four individuals who struggle to live up to the great expectations imposed upon them by a “Big Brother-esque” society in which punishment comes as a result of failure. The physical and mental effects of such a stressful environment are soon made clear as the characters are driven by a constant need to progress. Whether it means losing their appetite, becoming co-dependent or finding it difficult to focus, they must persist. As such, this play forces us to reconsider whether this immense pressure to succeed might actually do more harm than good.
Henriette B Laursen, Tom Cray, Meg Lake, Drew Sheridan-Wheeler and Lucy Spreckley make up the cast.
Director Alan Fielden comments on the show’s thematic content, showcasing the direct overlap in performance culture and mental health: “There’s a unique tone, or atmosphere, to The Real. It’s a play that explores contemporary aches—success, authenticity, conformity, loss, systems of control—with a language that’s eerie yet vivid, at times disorienting, and then ecstatic.”
The show will run from Thursday 29 September to Saturday 1 October 2022. Tickets are available at The Cockpit Theatre website.
Words by Katie Heyes
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