Based on her own experiences of anorexia nervosa this funny and poignant play with songs is a three hander about obsession, despair and finally about letting go, offering an authentic insight that challenges popular misconceptions about dealing with and recovering from the condition.
Mess was developed with the help of experts from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, one of the leaders in eating disorder research, and with funding from a Wellcome Trust Arts Award.
Josephine, Boris and Sistahl are catapulted from the depths of despair and bafflement to the heights of joy and hope and back again as they struggle to tell the story of Josephine’s anorexia and recovery. Mess is wickedly funny and deeply moving, providing a window into an internal world of addiction and control, which is finally rejected for the messy, chaotic and rich world outside.
Caroline is joined by Hannah Boyde, a member of the War Horse ensemble. Musician Seiriol Davies previously collaborated with Punchdrunk, writing songs for and performing in The Black Diamond (2011). His original score and songs are performed live.
Caroline’s You’re Not Like The Other Girls Chrissy won The Stage Awards' “Best Solo Performer” in 2010. It was nominated for a Holden Street Theatres award, New Writing South Best New Play and Best Theatre Performer at the Adelaide Fringe. The show continues to tour nationally and internationally.
Caroline Horton is a performer, writer and director based in Birmingham. Caroline is currently developing a new show called Islands, is an associate artist at The Bush and newly associated with the Oxford Playhouse through their Evolve programme. Caroline directed and co-adapted Grisly Tales from Tumblewater for Teasel and is developing their new show, Dreams to Her Father, both as dramaturg and as a performer. She has also collaborated on shows for Shams, Tender Trap and The Plasticine Men and is developing a new show, Kick, with MAKE/SHIFT.
Caroline recently played Heidi at the egg, Bath, the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at The Brewhouse, Olga in Heldenplatz at the Arcola and performed as Cinderella in the version by Melly Still and Ben Power at Warwick Arts Centre. Caroline performed Almost 10 for Tangram at the Edinburgh Festival in 2009 and was nominated in The Stage Awards for Best Solo Performer. She also adapted and performed I'll Show You Mine (sequel to Almost 10).
Susan Ringwood (Chief Executive, BEAT, the leading eating disorder charity) said: “...a truly remarkable piece of theatre. Eating disorders thrive on secrecy and shame, but Mess brings the illness out into the open in a way that will change both hearts and minds. It’s honest and insightful portrayal will bring hope to anyone affected by an eating disorder."
Professor Ulrike Schmidt (King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry) said: “Caroline Horton and her team have achieved the impossible: Mess is a highly engaging, incredibly moving, and above all wonderfully funny play about one young woman’s recovery from anorexia.
"Importantly, the laughter is never at the expense of the person with anorexia. Mess gives an immensely positive, hopeful message to people with this devastating condition, borne out of real understanding of the loneliness, despair and obsessiveness of the disorder.”
NATIONAL TOUR 8th April to 1st June | 14th May to 1st June at BAC