Who Are We?
We are a passionate and determined creative team bringing anatomy of pain to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025. This powerful and unflinching show explores the dysfunctional healthcare system through the deeply personal journey of Alex, a patient seeking a diagnosis for the rare and debilitating condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
About Our Show
anatomy of pain is an intimate, emotional, and interdisciplinary performance that sheds light on the ignorance, arrogance, dismissiveness, and lack of empathy often displayed by clinicians when faced with rare conditions. Through Alex’s experiences, audiences witness the devastating impact that chronic illness has on every facet of life—from identity to relationships.
Beautifully crafted and deeply moving, this performance is a must-see for anyone seeking to understand the human cost of systemic failings. We aim to raise awareness, spark important conversations, and foster empathy through our storytelling.
This project was first developed at FUSE International 2024 and Brighton Fringe 2024, where we were honored to receive the Chair’s Bursary for Disabled Creatives. This recognition helped us refine and strengthen the production and now we are eager to take it to an even larger platform at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.
Audience Feedback from Brighton Fringe:
“Very thought provoking - sensitively written and powerfully executed”
“A very clear expression of the experience of chronic pain. The acting was first rate”
“A touching, sincere, well-crafted, and effective theatrical piece that is both heartfelt and well-executed"
Why We Need Your Help
Taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe is an exciting but costly endeavor. As a team of emerging artists, we are dedicated to making this project a reality, but we need financial support to cover essential costs, including:
- Venue Hire – Ensuring we have a professional and accessible performance space
- Accommodation – Housing our cast and crew for the duration of the festival
- Marketing & Promotion – Helping us reach the widest audience possible
- Production Costs – Covering set, costume, props, and technical elements
While we are working hard to raise funds through grants and other avenues, we need the support of our community to make anatomy of pain the success it deserves to be.
Why This Show Matters
This is more than just a performance—anatomy of pain is a deeply personal story. As the writer and director, I have been living through this struggle for the past seven years, navigating the challenges of seeking a diagnosis and proper medical care. This show is my way of making this issue seen, amplifying the voices of those who feel unheard, and sharing a lived experience that resonates with so many. It’s also an opportunity to try and articulate the often unseen side of chronic illness and disability.
By bringing this show to Edinburgh Fringe, we hope to educate, inspire, and create meaningful change in how healthcare systems treat patients with chronic illnesses. More importantly, we hope this show prompts discussions with our audience about how we can work together to enact real change.
How You Can Help
No contribution is too small—every single donation makes a difference! By supporting our crowdfunding campaign, you are directly enabling us to bring this vital story to life.
Ways to Support:
- Donate whatever you can—every pound counts
- Share our campaign with friends, family, and on social media
We are incredibly grateful for any and all support. Your generosity helps us amplify an important conversation, challenge systemic injustices, and bring anatomy of pain to the stage where it belongs.
Join us in making a difference—thank you for helping us bring our show to life!
anatomy of pain is running from the 01.08.25 to the 09.08.25, every day at 13:55, at theSpaceUK Surgeons’ Hall, Stephenson Theatre.
The running time of the show is 55 minutes (it’ll fly by…)