A new show which brings real-life eating disorder stories to the stage is coming to Pendleton Sixth Form College this October.
The all-female show ‘Joy Unspeakable’ uses physical theatre, live music and verbatim text to dynamically present the true testimonies of four women, each with a different eating disorder and each at a different stage of recovery.
The show by Ordinary Glory will come to Pendleton Sixth Form College on October 2.
Joy Unspeakable is created by Artistic Director Amy Hailwood, whose own experience with bulimia in her teen years inspired the show.
Amy suffered from bulimia in her late teens and early twenties, but has subsequently recovered.
Feeling that cultural representation of eating disorders were limited and conversations around the topic still largely taboo, Hailwood wanted to create a show that busts myths about disordered eating, reflects the diversity of the experience, offers a support network and demonstrates that recovery is possible.
Starting four years ago, she invited three other women to be interviewed about their eating disorders. With each story offering an account of one of the four main eating disorders, Hailwood recorded their testimonies and – armed with almost a decade of experience as a theatre director and drama facilitator (including productions at Octagon Theatre and The Royal Exchange Theatre) – she created the show.
Hailwood said: “Nearly a million women and girls in the UK have an eating disorder and since Covid, referral numbers have been skyrocketing. Yet understanding and cultural representation of this aspect of mental health feels some way behind other areas of the mental health conversation.
“As an artist with lived experience of eating disorder recovery, I was inspired to create Joy Unspeakable to open this conversation up and inspire others with hope that change is possible.”
Research from leading eating disorder charity BEAT estimates that 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder, with many more undisclosed cases and people affected.
With most eating disorders reported to develop during adolescence (the average onset age being 16-17 years old) and treatment proven to be far more effective when received in the first three years of illness, it was vital to the theatre company to connect with young people.
Alongside their performance in Pendleton Sixth Form College, Ordinary Glory’s Engagement Lead has been working with local universities and colleges to offer free tickets to see the show for 16-25 year olds, as well as bespoke pre and post show workshops to help them receive the work in a supported way.
For tickets and more information, click here.
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