REVIEW - THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA - THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD EAST -

When mental illness is brought to the stage, it’s usually in the form of depression or anxiety. However, there’s a multitude of different diagnoses and for the person experiencing mental illness and the people around them it can be a very difficult and scary experience. With 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health problem of some kind each year in England, it’s about time that a different illness was shown on the main stage – and this time, it’s Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Lisa has lost an hour. And they’re determined to find that hour, as the world seems off balance without it. Lisa asks for help from a very strange man that appears to drink the urine of others, no I too didn’t understand the relevance or need for this fact, but there we go. Soon they are on a lift to The Wonderful World of Dissocia. Lisa is expertly portrayed by Leah Harvey, who showcases a range of emotions throughout their performance and stunning vocals too.

Anthony Neilson’s play was first performed in 2004 at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh to critical acclaim. It’s fair to say that the show’s two Acts are in stark contrast from one another. Personally, I loved Act One and the exploration of the *very weird* and wonderful world of Dissocia. But the act does feel slightly too long, and I could understand someone leaving at the interval unsure of what they’ve just witnessed. But that would be a HUGE mistake, as Act Two is where all the secrets are revealed and the deeper meaning behind the piece is exposed. Act Two is short and concise, perfectly conveying the point of the production.

Firstly, Grace Smart’s designs are sensational. The set pieces feel as though they fell straight out of a picture book, with a 2D-like appearance. The influence of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is clear in the set design and costumes. I cannot get over how unique and effective the set design is in Act One, Smart does an excellent job at transporting the audience to a wonderful new world.

Lucía Sánchez Roldán’s lighting, Alexandra Faye Braithwaite’s sound and Smart’s designs work harmoniously to create atmosphere which heightens and elicits the desired emotional responses in the audience. This is a show that crawls under you skin and stays there long after the curtain’s fallen.

Neilson’s script is both humorous and relatable. There’s some very dark moments, but the production also contains some light-hearted fun moments too, creating a great balance.

This show portrays mental illness in a real and honest way. It can be hard for people on the outside to understand why someone would stop taking their medication when they know it keeps them at an equilibrium – but if unmedicated your world turns into Dissocia or Wonderland, it’s easy to understand that this could be preferable over the world we actually live in.

I don’t think you’ll find a show with two acts that are more distinctly different as this one. The Wonderful World of Dissocia has so much to say, and shouldn’t be taken at face value. With some tweaks in regards to pacing during the first Act, this show would be perfection. This is a show you cannot miss, and one that is so important right now!

The Wonderful World of Dissocia

Theatre Royal Stratford East

Until 15th October

{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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