Details

This original opera, inspired by Robert Burton's 1621 medical text book and performed by eight musicians, six singers and an actor, will take an intimate look at historical and modern-day experiences of depression through song, speech and mobile live-feed video screens. Through the exploration of a young man's experience of depression and his family's responses, the production compares Renaissance theory with contemporary research, using projected images of the performers' bodies to express experiences of depression and draw attention to the links between mental and physical health and showing that there are many creative ways to engage with mental health issues. The Anatomy of Melancholy is an epic text admired throughout literary history that attempts to give an exhaustive dissection of 'melancholy' in a search for knowledge of its symptoms, causes and cures. By addressing the relationship between physicality and wellbeing, bodycorps aims to encourage the audience to be more honest and open in their discussions of mental health. A new opera drawing links between medical and physical health in an exploration of depression, genetics and renaissance medicine. The show is performed in a space not conventionally associated with opera to create new possibilities for the art form and perhaps make it more accessible and relatable to broader audiences.

Cast/Performers

Mark Beesley (Father), Raphaela Papadakis (Blood), Anna Harvey (Black), Donna Lennard (Yellow), Dario Dugandzic (Phlegm)

Creatives/Company

Lyrics: Finn Beames
Music: Benjamin Tassie
Book by: Robert Burton
Producer: Steph Connell
Company: Bodycorps
Director: Finn Beames
Design(s): Finn Beames, Mayou Trikerioti
Lighting: Oscar Wyatt
Conductor: Tim Murray
Other: Professor Jonathan Flint (Molecular Psychiatry / Expert Advisor)