MEDIATHEK

Following its acclaimed success at the World Psychiatry International Congress,  psychiatrist Dr Sean Baumann’s cantata Madness: Songs of Hope and Despair, returned to the Baxter Theatre for a limited season from 9 to 19 February 2017.
 
 Baumann’s libretto is brought to life through music composed by Galina Juritz with Dizu Plaatjies, conducted by Chad Hendricks and directed by Lara Foot. Fiona Moodie integrates her own artworks with that of work by patients of Valkenberg Hospital, with video design by Koeka Stander and lighting design by Patrick Curtis.
 
 Mental illness and psychotic experiences are brought into the spotlight using a combination of music (both live and some recorded), song and visual imagery in an attempt to portray the complexities and also the wonder of these strange and ultimately unknowable worlds. The project arose from a concern that the plight of the seriously mentally ill is either ignored or profoundly misunderstood, and that this contributes significantly to the suffering of those deemed insane.
 
 Please note: A heavily reduced version of the 16 piece ensemble production can be made to accomodate budget.