HEARING THINGS
By Philip Osment
Hearing Things is a moving and provocative drama exploring the dilemmas of psychiatry, from the points of view of patients, relatives and staff.
Written by Writer’s Guild award winner, and Playing ON co-founder, Philip Osment, Hearing Things follows the journey of six characters’ struggles with mental health. Nicholas is a psychiatrist battling with the demands of his work and trying to keep his marriage alive. His father is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s and he is finding it increasingly hard to cope. When an “SUI” (serious untoward incident) occurs to one of Nicholas’ patients his life is turned upside down.
Created after 5 years of extensive research and development at some of the top mental health care facilities in the UK, Hearing Things considers the relationships between psychiatry and medication, doctor and patient.
Making Hearing Things
Hearing Things was Philip’s response to the people he had met, stories he had heard and interactions he witnessed in our work in mental health settings over a number of years.
CAST & CREW
ORIGINATING COMPANY
The Albany, April 2016
Nicholas - David Annen
Janet/Grace/Hope - Jeannette Rourke
Innocent/Patrick - Seun Shote
Director - Jim Pope
Designers - Miriam Nabarro and Jemima Robinson
Sound designer - Becky Smith
Stage Manager/DSM - Holly Marsh
Dramaturg - Lin Coghlan
Producer - Nadezhda Zhelyazkova
REMOUNTED CAST AND CREW
Omnibus Theatre, January 2017
Nicholas - Jim Pope
Janet/Grace/Hope - Jeannette Rourke
Innocent/Patrick - Daniel Ward
Director - Jim Pope
Assistant Director - Rob Hale
Stage/Production Manager - Gareth Howells
“Hearing Things has the weight of years’-worth of experiences and testmonies behind it. Always emotionally truthful – even during the dream-like transitions. A worthy addition to the canon of plays that explores the symbiosis of theatre with states of mind.”
“The performers take accomplished material and lift it higher.” ”