Exploring the thin line between life and death, Bare Naked Theatre presents Sarah Kane’s astonishing 4:48 Psychosis at the Metanoia Theatre, Brunswick Mechanics Institute for a limited season from 29 June 2016.
Delving into the complex issues of clinical depression, self harm, dependency and isolation, 4:48 Psychosis is composed of 24 sections which have no specified setting or characters, with the language varying between the naturalistic and the highly abstract or poetic.
The play harrowingly reveals, through poetry, anger and dark humour, an individual’s struggle to come to terms with their own psychosis, the numbers in the title referring to the time in the early morning when clarity and bleak despair strike together. Kane herself dealt with issues of serious mental illness and committed suicide at 28 shortly after completing this work.
Sarah Kane was an English playwright. Her plays deal with themes of redemptive love, sexual desire, pain, torture – both physical and psychological – and death. They are characterised by a poetic intensity, pared-down language, and the exploration of theatrical form. Her earlier works were known for the use of extreme and violent stage action.
Kane’s works include: Blasted (1995), Skin (1995), Phaedra’s Love (1996), Cleansed (1998), Crave (1998), and her final work, 4.48 Psychosis which was first performed posthumously in 2000 at the Royal Court’s Jerwood Theatre.
Bare Naked Theatre Artistic Director Kendall-Jane Rundle has recently relocated to Melbourne from Montreal to launch the theatre company here and is presenting its inaugural season with 4:48 Psychosis. Her overall mission is to produce multi-dimensional, dynamic work and bring together both experienced and emerging artists to cultivate pieces that challenge limits and audience expectations.
Director: Kendall-Jane Rundle Featuring: Alisha Eddy, Kendall-Jane Rundle, Jessica Stevens, Jeff Wortman
4:48 Psychosis
Metanoia Theatre – Brunswick Mechanics Institute, 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Season: 29 June – 2 July 2016
Bookings: www.metanoiatheatre.com
For more information, visit: www.barenakedtheatre.com for details.