‘A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad)’ is coming to The Lowry tomorrow, October 17th. The Hull based production company has created a muscial cabaret for people living with depression.
The show has been described as “Wonderful, truthful, enjoyable and beautifully performed.”
The production left viewers at the Edinburgh Fringe last year in awe and the Salford show, which is part of its first ever UK tour, follows on from Mental health awareness day last week.
Artistic Director Alex Mitchell said: “We made it in early 2017, took it to the fringe, won awards, and now we have a 38 date tour. It was a bit hard to believe considering it was our first time at the Edinburgh Festival.”
Silent Uproar was formed 5 years ago in a small pub in Hull. This is where they would meet up and rehearse for small local shows. They’re now half way throughout a 38 date tour, which is coming to the Lowry tomorrow.
A Super Happy Show (About Feeling Super Sad) aims to remove the stigma of talking about depression and embrace what so many people are living with today.
Alex said: “We wanted to create a fun show for people who are living with it, but also for their friend that has no idea what depression actually is.”
Alex and his team spent a year researching for the show. they interviewed 50 people living with depression, worked alongside the NHS, and other health care professionals such as Psychiatrit’s, mental health nurses, mind charities and psychologist.
“we wanted to create something that was entertaining and fun but also be educated enough about the topics to talk about it properly.”
Mental health and wellbeing is being spoken about in a more open way than ever before. However the statistics are not reflecting this.
Alex went on to say: “Over the years mental health practices, especially in young people has improved”
“However suicide is still the biggest killer of men under 40 and depression in women is worse than it was three years ago.”
“There are things that are getting better, but also things that are getting worse. There is still a huge underlying problem somewhere.”
The company are looking to bring diversity into theatres all over the UK consisting of not so traditional theatre lovers.
” We want people who love standup, we want concert lovers, we want the youth of today to enjoy theatre just as much as the cinemas. We have merged all of this together and created something for the Netflix generation.”
The opening night in Salford is Pay What You Decide, a decision which producers hope will encourage people who don’t usually attend theatres to be able to come and pay only what they can afford.
Alex said: ” We took the idea from Netflix, and thought of the theatre equivalent of your ‘month free trial’.”
“What this does is remove a barrier for people who are unsure about theatre to take a risk without having to pay full price.”
“Weather you think its worth a pint, a meal or even a season ticket.”
After the show there will be team of volunteers from Manchester mind and health care professionals who will be available to speak to anyone affected by any of the issues in the show.
Alex Mitchell said: “The Salford show will have mental health volunteers, people from the NHS, Manchester Mind and the Samaritans who will be there after every single show to speak to people.”
After every show the audience will leave with a little care package provided by silent uproar that is packed full of local information.
“Included is like 3 little Pokemon cards that have contacts to where you can get help specifically in your local area.”
A super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sas) is on for three nights at The Lowry Theatre in Salford from Wednesday, October 17.
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