Lauren Silver

SURPRISE! is an authentic and accessible performance that informs and invites us all to a fun, honest and open conversation about managing our mental health in the everyday.

By creating a safe space, SURPRISE! is a rare show using clowning and Le Jeu (‘the Game’ a performance concept by renowned master clown and professor of theatre Philippe Gaulier), crafted to be particularly accessible to those affected by Mental Health issues, promoting positive and supportive dialogue about therapy and self-care whilst celebrating neuro-diversity.

SURPRISE! premiered throughout 2017 at Theatre in the Mill, Camden People’s Theatre and Liverpool’s Physical Fest.  It was successfully awarded GFTA Funding and support from Arts Council and gained additional backing from Greenwich University’s Bathway Theatre, #ItAffectsMe and Liverpool Mental Health Consortium. In 2018, it enjoyed sold out shows at VAULT Festival and received a number of 4 and 5 star reviews.

Exeunt Magazine’s Beyond Nervous Laughter: www.exeuntmagazine.com/features/dark-humour-vaults/

Featured in Theatre Bubble’s Shows on the Rise: www.theatrebubble.com/2018/01/shows-rise-vault-festival-2018-surprise-lauren-silver/

Silent Faces Meet: www.silentfaces.weebly.com/blog/clowns-meet-lauren-silver

Co-Directors: Helen Foster and Bronya Deutch

Additional Direction: Matt Peover

Dramaturg: Abigail Anderson

Technical Manager: Jonathan Monkhouse

Producer: Charlotte Lund

Music Collaborator: David Keefe

Graphic Design: Stuart Gough

Show Photography: Ben Broomfield and Patrick D’Arcy

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

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, Janet Malits, Jo Gibson, Sarah Annakin, Rachel Hudson, Sophie Curtis at Watford Palace, Pierre Paton at Saatchi & Saatchi and Jon Gilchrist at Home Theatre.