NEUROCHATTER - Fringe Fund 2024

NEUROCHATTER - Synopsis

‘NeuroChatter’ is written and performed by Sara Harvey, taking on the role of three alter egos; 

‘Mike’ - an eccentric, scatterbrained academic in training, ‘Elliott’ - a defensive yet laid back aspiring artist

‘Host’ - the reluctant, vulnerable Core-Self hiding behind the fractured dominant identities of Mike & Elliott. 

Together, they battle out how to occupy the time and daily life of the Host Body they share together. 

An unraveling of the induced active imagination state, begins to occur via “Mike’s” academic analysis of why he exists & how to solve the puzzle of integrating the split aspects of the self. 

Can “Host” take back her true heart & core-self, or will she forever now hide behind the two dominant alter-egos that steer her mind, body & life? Can they collectively find away towards integration or will they remain in induced active-imagination fantasy, together … forever? 

NEUROCHATTER - Aim & Development

‘NeuroChatter’, is based on the artist’s personal experience of recovering from a dissociative condition and PTSD. She considers the piece to be an autobiographical performance of the inner conflict she’s experienced and uses the methodology of PsychoDrama, Family Internal Structure theory and Jungian Psychology to tell the tale. 

The artist has spent considerate time on voice, gesture & movement, in order to create and dramatize three core aspects of herself, into distinguishable and recognizable characters; to which she embodies and showcases all three, switching seamlessly in a conversational flow and tug of war over the one body they occupy. 

‘NeuroChatter’ was developed by using improvisation before being finalised into a script; this was done to provide as much access towards Free Associative unconscious diatribes, which were then memorised into this performance. 

Sara hopes to showcase complex themes regarding trauma, identity and the inner workings of the mind, by externalising representations of the inner psyche & concept of persona through narrative dramatisation. With many misrepresentations of mental health, Sara hopes to challenge that narrative with a more humanising approach, in the aim of de-stigmatisation of complex trauma survivors.

Sara J Harvey is an amateur writer & actor studying with North West Acting School in Chester & showcased her Debut performance of NEUROCHATTER in production by Tired Horse Theatre Company. 

Sara is trained in Somatic Psychology with Applied Neuroscience & is an Autistic advocate and educator in the area of Nervous System Regulation. She is a keen speaker & researcher of Trauma Therapy & Dissociative Conditions, to which she has personal lived experience with.

NEUROCHATTER at The Ed Fringe

Performing at the Fringe Festival would enable a world premiere of a Full Feature (65 minute 3 Act performance) of NEUROCHATTER, showcasing and platforming it to a wider audience than ever before. As a solo amateur artist, hitting the funds target would ensure that entering Fringe is financially accessible; helping towards costs of facility fees, tech, sound license, publicity, marketing, travel, accommodation, set, costume & staff assistance. It really does take a village and I ask for your assistance and support at funding my solo project, so I can deliver it to a village in return. 

Long term aims for NEUROCHATTER is to create a UK tour, increase visibility, build connections and networks and enter into future drama festival circuits. Live & online viewings of Neurochatter will also be made available in order for those who live further a field to watch and enjoy the journey of the three characters; Mike, Host and Elliott.