The latest from one of Perth’s most unique theatrical venues offers insight into mental illness and explores the taboo subject through its central character.
Penned by Nina Pearce, whose experience spans film, television and stage, ‘Broken Colour’ blends a personal account into a dramatic tale that asks the question –do you really know yourself.
Joe Cassidy asked Nina Pearce a few questions…
The story focuses on bringing mental illness into the mainstream by attacking its taboo nature, how did you accomplish this?
We are showing detail in a character who has mental illness. We want to tell her story and make her a relatable character. If the audience can relate to someone who has a mental illness then it won’t seem
like such a scary topic, they can see how this would happen to a very normal person and they can see how this could happen to anyone.
Is there a particular instance in public conscious or in your own life that was the inspiration for the story?
I based the character that’s having the manic episode on a manic episode I had in 2005. I experienced what that was and it made me want to write this story.
Was the writing a form of therapy?
I suppose you could argue all art, in a way, can be considered therapy, if you have a need to express something then it’s obviously coming from somewhere. So, I think it’s probably me trying to make sense of what happened.
It sounds like it is quite an intense story, is it a drama or a comedy?
Mostly drama, there are lighter moments within the dialogue between Olivia and Gareth (the central characters) and there are lighter moments in the story but I wouldn’t call it a comedy. It’s still a drama but I wouldn’t call it a comedy.
Broken Colour is on at The Blue Room from 17th September until 5th October.
Joe Cassidy
photo credit: Libby Edwards
