NEW PLAY ABOUT CHRONIC ILLNESS COMING TO LAMBETH FRINGE FESTIVAL

A new play about the challenges of living with the chronic illness ME will make its London debut at the Lambeth Fringe Festival this October.

Titled YAWN, the play tells the story of a young woman who falls ill with the long-term health condition ME – also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – and struggles to get help with a diagnosis.

Playing at the Golden Goose Theatre on the 8th & 9th October, YAWN has been written by actor Hollie Christian-Brookes and is inspired by her experiences of living with ME/CFS over the last few years.

Hollie says: “ME has completely changed my life. Before having the condition I was generally fit and well and enjoyed an active, social lifestyle. Now I have to be really careful about what I do to manage my symptoms. It can be hard seeing friends and family make the most of life when sometimes it takes all you have to just get out of bed and do normal things like shower or brush your teeth.

“I wanted YAWN to shine a light on the challenges of having ME/CFS and a chronic illness in general. Because it’s a hidden illness it can be hard for people to recognise or understand, so I wrote the play to raise more awareness about the condition and highlight the lack of support available.”

ME/CFS is a fluctuating condition that usually develops after a viral or bacterial infection. The main symptoms are debilitating fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, extreme exhaustion after exercise, and problems thinking clearly – though the condition typically affects each person differently. Additional symptoms can also include heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, muscle aches, persistent flu-like symptoms, digestive issues, and sensory sensitivity.

Hollie, who is based in the West Midlands, will play the lead role ‘Young Woman’, alongside actor Christopher Irvine as ‘Brainworm’. Also in the cast is chronic illness TikTok influencer Oliver George as the ‘Voice of ME’, narrating the various hidden symptoms felt by the main character.

YAWN made its debut at the Cheltenham Fringe Festival earlier this year to glowing reviews, with audience members hailing the show as “heartfelt and funny in equal measure”, “very relatable”, and “educational and entertaining at the same time”.

Hollie says: “It feels very surreal to be bringing the play I wrote in my childhood bedroom to the bright lights of London. We’ve had an amazing reception so far, so now feels like the right time for YAWN to reach a bigger audience.

“It seems like conversations about hidden disabilities and ME/CFS specifically are becoming more open which is really encouraging. I hope YAWN can be a small part of fostering more education and discussions about how society treats people with invisible illnesses.”

The play will also be raising money for the ME Association with a cash collection on the door. The charity supports thousands of people across the country who have ME/CFS, Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome, and Long Covid by funding research, lobbying government, and providing essential resources to help with day-to-day living.

Hollie says: “Having ME is obviously not what I wanted, but it has made me value life in a way I never did before. Whether you relate to the condition, or just want a good laugh and fancy learning something new at the same time, YAWN is sure to give you a powerful night of entertainment.”

YAWN is at The Golden Goose Theatre on Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th October as part of the Lambeth Fringe Festival. Tickets are £12 full price and £10 concessions and can be purchased on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yawn-a-chronically-fatigued-play-lambeth-fringe-festival-tickets-1507960513489?aff=oddtdtcreator