Life. It’s raw, it’s real, and there’s karaoke.
Award-winning Hull-based theatre company Silent Uproar Productions (A Super Happy Story About Feeling Super Sad; Dead Girls Rising) presents Shit Life Crisis, a brand new sing-along karaoke play about survival and the impediments to living - touring venues across the North of England in May and June. Written by Olivia Hannah (Braids), with a soundtrack of queer pop bangers from Chappell Roan to Icona Pop and more, Shit Life Crisis is a darkly hilarious exploration of survival in the face of illness, grief and friendship, and why the barriers to living are not all lifted with the “All Clear”.
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| Florence Odumosu and Madeleine MacMahon in rehearsals. Photo by SWAY |
Directed by Silent Uproar AD Alex Mitchel, Shit Life Crisis follows Grace, who has smashed cancer with the perennial support of her ride-or-die Abbie, but victory has begun to feel like a bad joke. She has tried, like really tried, to climb out of a pit of streaming and scrolling, following Abbie's 100 step plan to being alive, but she is still gripped by fear.
Ahead of the run we sat down with Olivia Hannah to learn more.
What can you tell me about Sh*t Life Crisis?
Shit Life Crisis is a funny and lively karaoke show about a young woman experiencing and recovering from chemo, and the unexpected friendship that helps her through it.What inspired you to write this piece?
The catalyst for this story was my sister having stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma and going through chemo when she was in her early twenties. She’s been in remission for over 10 years, but recovery was tough, mentally and physically, and the experience changed her completely. It felt like an aspect of cancer that we rarely see in drama; cancer stories either end in tragedy or happy ever after, but in reality it can be devastating even if you ‘beat’ it and I really wanted to talk about that side of it.
The catalyst for this story was my sister having stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma and going through chemo when she was in her early twenties. She’s been in remission for over 10 years, but recovery was tough, mentally and physically, and the experience changed her completely. It felt like an aspect of cancer that we rarely see in drama; cancer stories either end in tragedy or happy ever after, but in reality it can be devastating even if you ‘beat’ it and I really wanted to talk about that side of it.
I also wanted to shine a light on the friends who show up in tough times. It’s really common for people to pull away when their friends get seriously ill, maybe because they don’t know how to help or they’re worried about getting it wrong, but that’s exactly the time when friends need to lean in.
How have you approached the karaoke elements and the music to feature?
With a lot of support and guidance from our director and music director, Alex Mitchell and Anya Pearson This is my first time working music into a play so I focussed on the story and we all chose songs that would fit well and make for a good karaoke experience. Alex suggested points in the story where music would blend well and Anya honed in on the emotional story we were telling through the song choices.
With a lot of support and guidance from our director and music director, Alex Mitchell and Anya Pearson This is my first time working music into a play so I focussed on the story and we all chose songs that would fit well and make for a good karaoke experience. Alex suggested points in the story where music would blend well and Anya honed in on the emotional story we were telling through the song choices.
How do you blend the music with the storytelling?
The story partly takes place in a karaoke bar and so music is naturally part of the story. It’s how the characters bond and fuel themselves emotionally to deal with tough times.
The story partly takes place in a karaoke bar and so music is naturally part of the story. It’s how the characters bond and fuel themselves emotionally to deal with tough times.
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| Olivia Hannah, Alex Mitchel, Florence Odumosu and Madeleine MacMahon in rehearsals. Photo by SWAY |
The show naturally focuses on themes including illness and grief, how do you approach that in the writing process?
With empathy and honesty, I hope. I’ve had a lot of conversations with people about the impact of cancer and serious illness, especially since Covid began, and I have my own experiences of illness and grief to draw on. I’ve tried not to exactly reproduce any one person’s experiences; instead, I’ve tried to use what I know to give my characters their own specific journeys and make them authentic. You can’t portray every facet of an experience, but if the story is rooted in truth it should resonate with a lot of people.
With empathy and honesty, I hope. I’ve had a lot of conversations with people about the impact of cancer and serious illness, especially since Covid began, and I have my own experiences of illness and grief to draw on. I’ve tried not to exactly reproduce any one person’s experiences; instead, I’ve tried to use what I know to give my characters their own specific journeys and make them authentic. You can’t portray every facet of an experience, but if the story is rooted in truth it should resonate with a lot of people.
With the karaoke elements, you are encouraging audiences to join in, how does this impact on the shared experience?
I hope it enhances it! There is such joy and energy in singing with other people and my wish is for people to leave feeling moved and uplifted, especially as the show covers some difficult and emotional themes.
I hope it enhances it! There is such joy and energy in singing with other people and my wish is for people to leave feeling moved and uplifted, especially as the show covers some difficult and emotional themes.
What was the first piece of theatre you saw that had a big impact on you?
Misty by Arinze Kene. It sent me to the moon.
Misty by Arinze Kene. It sent me to the moon.
What keeps you inspired?
Curiosity and a busy mind. I think I’m just wired that way. I’m endlessly curious about people’s lives and our shared experiences. I don’t think I’ll ever run out of stories.
Curiosity and a busy mind. I think I’m just wired that way. I’m endlessly curious about people’s lives and our shared experiences. I don’t think I’ll ever run out of stories.
What message do you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
I hope people leave with a better understanding of the impact of cancer treatment, if that's not something they've experienced before. And for people who have experienced it, I hope they feel seen and represented in some way. And I hope that people leave feeling moved but uplifted.
I hope people leave with a better understanding of the impact of cancer treatment, if that's not something they've experienced before. And for people who have experienced it, I hope they feel seen and represented in some way. And I hope that people leave feeling moved but uplifted.
Shit Life Crisis premieres at Junction Goole on Tuesday 20 May before touring to Hull’s Polar Bear Music Club (21 - 23, 29 - 31 May), The Dukes Lancaster (27 - 28 May), Theatre by the Lake in Keswick (4 June), and Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle (5 - 7 June).
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