A NOTE FROM CAROLINE HORTON ON MESS… As with all of my shows, I set out to make a surprising, exciting and beautiful piece of theatre but with Mess, by telling a version of my own story of illness and recovery from anorexia, I also wanted to encourage greater understanding of the experiences of sufferers and carers, and to encourage people to talk more openly about the illness, and to ask questions – even the ‘wrong’ ones. Susan Ringwood from Beat (UK eating disorder charity) put her finger on my hopes for the piece at a preview showing: “Eating disorders thrive on secrecy and shame, but Mess brings the illness out into the open in a way that will change both hearts and minds. Its honest and insightful portrayal will bring hope to anyone affected by an eating disorder”. I am hugely grateful to the incredible people I have had the privilege of working with: the creative team, China Plate as producers, experts from the Maudsley Hospital, King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Ethox and Beat.
WORRIED ABOUT EATING DISORDERS? There is help available. If you are concerned that someone around you might have an eating disorder, or that you might have an eating disorder, talk to someone you trust. This could be a parent, teacher, guidance counselor, or another friend. Other support and resources: Klinic Crisis Line: Available 24/7 • tel: 204.786.8686 or 1.888.322.3019 Confidential counselling open to anyone to discuss any problem: you do not need to be in crisis to call. National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) Helpline: M-F 9am–9pm EST • tel: 1.866.NEDIC.20 or email: nedic@uhn.ca For a list of Teen Clinics in Winnipeg and Rural/Northern Manitoba: http://teentalk.ca/teenclinics/ Eating Disorders Manitoba Website: http://eatingdisordersmanitoba.ca Healthy Living Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/mh/eatingdisorders.html Developed in association with BEAT (the UK’s leading charity supporting people affected by eating disorders) and with the help of experts from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry. triggered@warwick Arts Centre. Commissioned by BAC & Parabola Arts Centre. Funded by Arts Council England. Original production funded by the Wellcome Trust and supported by Ovalhouse, London. Supported by the MA Dramatic Writing Lab at Drama Centre London at Central Saint Martins carolinehorton.net • @carolineplays • chinaplatetheatre.com • @youroldchina • #messtheatre