How does a girl with social and anticipation anxiety enjoy a surprise party? 

Actor, clown and jolly anxious theatre-maker Lauren invites you to a new show packed full of party games and hopefully no panic attacks.

SURPRISE! is an interactive clown show that looks at how we can confront anxiety, overcome fear, and find freedom through laughter.

Additional backing and support from Theatre in the Mill, Camden People’s Theatre, Physical Fest,  Bathway Theatre, the #ItAffectsMe Campaign and Liverpool Mental Health Consortium.

Created and Performed: Lauren Silver

Directors: Helen Foster and Bronya Deutch

Dramaturg: Abigail Anderson

Technical Manager: Jonathan Monkhouse

Music Collaborator: David Keefe

Graphic Design: Stuart Gough

Photography: Ben Broomfield and Patrick D’Arcy

Medical and Psychology Collaboration: Lyndsey Moon, Simon Josolyne and Jeremy Slaughter

Huge Thanks to: Esta Charkham Associates, Francesca Peschier, Eric Davis of Red Bastard, Peta Lily, Bryony Kimmings, Jamie Wood, Holly Aston, Rebecca Atkinson-Lord, Dylan Tate, Mark Winstanley, Charles Shetcliffe, Ben Lloyd and Sarah Randell at Liverpool Everyman, Mark Conway, Jillian Wallis, Mandy Hutchins, Dave Hockham, Edward Currie and Tess Van Leeuwen from Bathway Theatre Network, Elinor Randle and Claire Bigley from Physical Fest, Bea Holland, Emma Morris from Talking Tables, Jo Gibson, Sarah Annakin, Rachel Hudson, Sophie Curtis at Watford Palace, Pierre Paton at Saatchi & Saatchi and Jon Gilchrist at Bush Theatre.

Reviews:

London Theatre 1

Theatre Bubble

A Pint and a Play

Whats On London

Fringe Guru

“Silver is a frantic, fuzzy presence with a warm wit”
— The Stage
“You’d be a fool not to see it”
— A Pint and a Play
“I was side swiped with emotion”
— The Play’s the Thing
“Engineers an infectious atmosphere of sensitivity and sympathy”
— The Stage
“Hugely empowering and deeply, deeply funny.”
— Theatre Bubble
“It’s all very real, and rather charming”
— London Theatre 1
“Silver floats along on a bubbly cloud of sheer likeability”
— Fringe Guru
“Absolutely stunning work that totally takes you by surprise!”
— The Play’s the Thing
“Surprise! is getting five stars, for Silver’s sheer bravery, brilliance, likeability”
— London Theatre 1

Twitter Response:

Past Performance Images:

Vault Festival: 14th & 15th February 2018 © Ben Broomfield

 

Fest Live at Physical Fest: 1st June 2017 © Andrew Ness

 

Camden People's Theatre: 9th & 10th March 2017 © Ben Broomfield

 

Past Work in Progress Performances:

Vault Festival, London: 14th & 15th February 2018 @ 9.30pm

Fest Live at Physical Fest, Unity Theatre Liverpool: 1st June 2017

Camden People's Theatre as part of Sprint Festival: 9th and 10th March 2017 @ 9pm

Theatre in the Mill, Bradford: 25th February 2017 @ 7.30pm

I was interviewed by Sabrina Grant for Time To Talk Day and here's the wonderful video below:

Early Stage Development Images

Image Credits: Ben Broomfield and Ynos Productions