York theatre company challenges perceptions of mental illness

The play was written by Out of Character’s artistic director Paul Birch and uses the concept of the Victorian ‘freak show’ as a prism through which to probe contemporary misconceptions about mental health

York Theatre Royal and Out Of Character present
Objects of Terror
Written by Paul Birch
Directed by Juliet Forster

York Theatre Royal Studio, 1 & 2 Nov, 7.45pm,
Press night Wed 1 Nov, 7.45pm

A York-based theatre company which challenges perceptions of mental illness through its plays returns to York Theatre Royal’s Studio on 1 and 2 November with Objects of Terror!, lifting the curtain on the inmates of Victorian asylums and their “mad doctors”.

The play was written by Out of Character’s artistic director Paul Birch and uses the concept of the Victorian ‘freak show’ as a prism through which to probe contemporary misconceptions about mental health service users.

The twelve-strong cast have lived experience of their subject matter, having all accessed mental health services. It is directed by York Theatre Royal Associate Director Juliet Forster, who initially conceived the idea.

The central character, Mr Carroll, finds himself in the labyrinthine world of the Victorian asylum, through which he’s given a tour by the shadowy Dr Rideaux.

But as he, along with the audience, is introduced to a variety of patients and staff members, all of whom have their own stories, it becomes apparent that nothing in this asylum is what it seems, and Mr Carroll finds himself rethinking his preconceived ideas about mental illness.

Writer Paul Birch said:

“The show has something of a Halloween atmosphere – it’ll be dark, scary and a bit like stepping onto a ghost train.

But underneath this melodramatic surface the play will deal with some very serious and contemporary issues.

It explores treatments from the medieval era, the Victorian era, and even some from as recent as the 50s, which now seem inconceivable – for example, being spun around in a rotational chair until the madness left, or adjusting magnetic fields around a patient until they became ‘healthy’ or, perhaps most disturbingly, the view that madness stemmed from an infected body part and so the body part was cut out to remove the madness.

The show looks into history of these treatments and misconceptions of mental illness, some of which survive today. There’s still this wariness of anyone who is schizophrenic, psychotic or even neurotic.

It puts people at a distance when you put a ‘mental health’ label on them, in a way it doesn’t for asthmatics, for instance.”

The play’s title Objects of Terror has a double meaning: it refers both to the objects such as rotating chairs or straitjackets that have been used to treat mental health problems and which will feature in the show; it also alludes to a 1772 announcement in a York newspaper promoting the need for a psychiatric hospital in York

“for the relief of those unhappy sufferers who are the objects of terror and compassion to all around them.”

Director Juliet Forster said:

“I’m delighted to be working with Out of Character again on Objects of Terror. Anyone who hasn’t seen the company before should come along – it’s such a rare and rewarding theatrical experience.”