Bedlam at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

Bedlam at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

The world premier of Nell Leyshon's 'Bedlam' hits the stage on 5 September. The first female playwright to be performed at the Globe, Leyshon won the 2005 Evening Standard's Most Promising Playwright Award.

Set in 18th-centrury London the play gives viewers a glimpse into a Bedlam London has long forgotten.

Here's how the Globe Theatre describes it:
"The city's ancient hospital for the insane is under the supervision of the prejudiced Dr Sidney Carew and his imbecile son, whose interests lie in containing rather than curing their patients. But with the arrival of the lovely country girl, May, and the appointment of a more enlightened and sympathetic governor, this inhuman regime starts to crumble, along with the sanity of the asylum keepers themselves.

"Employing a cast that includes doctors (some mad), patients (some sane), a homicidal painter and a hypochondriac poet, and set against an anarchic backdrop of binge drinkers, gin sellers and ballad singers, Bedlam combines dance and song with scenes of lust, violence, absurd comedy and unexpected romance."

Leyshon has been working closely with London's Bethlem Royal Hospital to get a glimpse of life both then and now.

"Nell visited the predischarge forensic service at River House, Bethlem Royal Hospital and met with patients and staff to develop the script." Explains Dr Tim McInerny, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at River House who has been working with Nell.

"The clinical team and patients have had the opportunity to work with the cast and director in developing an accurate portrayal of mental illness and clinical care through an afternoon workshop at River House.

"The production team want to ensure that the portrayal of people with mental health problems is truthful and reflective. Patients and staff were delighted to help and are looking forward to seeing the play."

Tim will be giving a talk at the Globe on the 16th Sept at 6pm with the Playwright Nell Leyshon about the play and the involvement of Bethlem Royal Hospital. The play runs from 5 September - 1 October.

Ticket booking information:

Phone                          020 7401 9919 or 020 7087 7398
In person                     Mon-Sat 10am-6pm (8pm on performance days)
Sundays 10am-5pm (7pm on performances days)
On-line                         www.shakespeares-globe.org
Tickets                         £5.00 - £35.00

Portraits: Patients and Psychiatrists
From 26 August to 1 October the Globe will also be hosting an exhibition Portraits: Patients and Psychiatrists by Gemma Anderson, co-organised by Dr Tim McInerny. The exhibition was recently on display at Bethlem Royal Hospital's Art Gallery and was featured on Radio 4's All in the Mind you can listen to it here before moving to the Freud Museum.