On Wednesday 3rd April, a group of us went to see ‘SAD’, an original experimental play by two ND+ performers, at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury.
After hearing about ‘SAD’, an experimental theatrical piece combining music, image and storytelling to explore the first-hand experiences of grief by Neurodivergent+ performers Brigitte Aphrodite and Quiet Boy (Gaz Tomlinson), MixMatched arranged an impromptu theatre trip!
Upon arriving in our seats our small group of seven were greeted by a woman (who we later learned was co-star Brigitte Aphrodite) who offered us all tissues… and a warning we might need one for what was to come! It was a very relaxed setting before the show started, with both Quiet boy and Aphrodite engaging with the audience, they began the show by solidifying that it was a ND+ safe space, and that audience members were free to move/make noises and leave at any time.
They also informed us that there were several ways to engage with ‘SAD’, which would be quite eclectic in terms light, sound and movement. One way suggested was to close your eyes and listen (which is mostly what I did), soon an array of audio effects unfolded. With your eyes open you could also see a projector screen with a series of short animations, while a number of lighting effects were cast by the many lamps set above and around the stage. At points I felt overstimulated, which is why, for large portions, I just listened to the audio.
‘SAD’ explored what it was like for ‘Quiet Boy’ to lose his mother just before Lockdown; he sang and played on keyboard a number of his own songs written as a way of processing grief. Interspaced were clips of his mother speaking, creating a really strong emotional tie with the audience. The two performers often talked and checked in with each other on stage, permitting us to glimpse into their relationship and home life. One part I really connected to was when Quiet Boy spoke about how a moth that had seemed dead suddenly flew out the window the day after his mum died in the house… this had meant something to his dad, but he (Quiet Boy) had felt obliged to ‘fake’ that this incident had meant something to him too; having lost a parent myself, I felt this ‘tug’ at needing to connect to your own emotions (which are often quite numb), while also feeling a need to ‘perform’ and support those around you. ‘SAD’ explored how Neurodivergent+ perception and processing can be related/transcend into the grieving process, and how this had happened for Quiet Boy.
After the show, MixMatched obtained an exclusive questions and answers session with Quiet Boy and Brigitte Aphrodite. We asked a number of questions including:
Being Neurodivergent performers, do you feel that any type of Neurodivergent+ aesthetic/perception influenced your work?
Brigitte Aphrodite spoke upon how, being ND, means she often makes up new words to express herself (accidentally!) both on and off stage, which create new ‘modes’ of communication. She also expressed how, being neurodivergent+ meant that she was less aware of certain rules or boundaries, and she understood this to be something that followed her and permeated onto stage; live performance was a place where she could claim her space and communicate in ways that made sense to her and Quiet Boy.
Many Neurodivergent+ individuals, throughout their lifetimes, have experienced feeling ignored and chronically misunderstood; when neurodivergent+ individuals can feel comfortable and take control of their narrative, performance/the stage can provide creative, innovative, safe spaces where ND+ individuals can claim identity, asserting elements of their nature by communicating in ways that are intrinsic and comfortable to them.
What is the most important thing to get right when touring a show as an ND+ performer?
Brigitte Aphrodite spoke upon how ‘SAD’ had been performed at Edinburgh Frindge, and the stress of touring; for her, it was absolutely fundamental to have a good team support you who you trust and rely on in times of stress/overwhelm. She needed to know that the people she worked with ‘got her’ and had her best interests at heart.
Brigitte also stressed the importance of not saying yes to everything, enabling you to be in touch regarding limits such as burnout/overwhelm.
I really look forward to seeing what Brigitte Aphrodite and Quiet Boy do next, and I hope that they stay in touche with the MixMatched collective!
