Mental health is a difficult thing to tackle in theatre, because simply talking about mental health can be a very sensitive topic. At Silent Faces, we have tackled A Clown Show About Rain with silence, but over at Silent Uproar they have hit the subject with music. I spoke to Alex from Silent Uproar about their show, A Super Happy Story (about feeling super sad), and their desire to tell stories that make the world a little bit less shit. What drove you to make A Super Happy Story? Well Jon Brittain and myself wanted to make a show about depression, however we wanted to make a piece of work that was accessible and also fun. So we spent a few days throwing ideas around a room, then we went to go see Pixar's inside out. And that's what really sparked it we were like this but for more of an adult audience. And also a musical so it can be a joyful, fun, silly and sad night out. Tell us a bit about Silent Uproar Theatre We are a Hull-based company. With a simple mission statement to tell stories to make the world a little bit less shit. And also to provide cinema goers and comedy fans with a fun night out at their local theatre. All of our work is new and all of it is made in Hull. There are so many ways to tell stories, tackle issues, explore ideas - why theatre? It's live. I think it's more powerful to entertain an audience whilst provoking them with a big idea in the same room. What was the last show you saw that you think everyone should see? Left My Desk by Lost Watch. It was a honest, heartfelt and filled with humour look at the stress and struggle of social workers in the UK. But best of all it was like seeing a live channel 4 show, very similar to Teachers meets Babylon. Defintely worth a watch Theatre making is hard and, although we try our best to work around them, it has it’s limits. If you had an unlimited budget, a unquestioningly devoted audience and all the time in the world, what show would you make? A live version of A Nightmare before Christmas with Fall Out Boy as the Musical Directors and onstage band. What else in the Incoming Festival line-up are you excited to see? Really looking forward to Love+. WHY ISN'T THERE MORE SCI-FI LOVE STORY THEATRE?! Super Happy Story (about feeling super sad) will be at New Diorama on 4 July as part of Incoming Festival. A Clown Show About Rain by Silent Faces is a part of Incoming Festival at New Diorama, London and HOME, Manchester on 28 June and 2 July.
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