Location:
Rose Theatre Studio
Running time:
60mins
Accessibility:
Wheelchair Access
Accessible Toilet
Step Free Access
Content:
The performance addresses themes of childhood trauma and abuse, PTSD, and chronic mistreatment. While there are several verbal references to general trauma and abuse during the performance, no specific personal stories or detailed narratives are verbally presented on stage. The exhibition features visual art and poetry exploring themes of childhood trauma, abuse, PTSD, and chronic mistreatment, among others. The exhibition may contain brief traumatic stories, which will be trigger-warned in writing to the audience. The exhibition is set in the same space as the rest of the performance. The exhibition lasts for approximately 10 minutes, during which the audience may experience a crowded, confined space, depending on the number of attendees to the show. The movement sequences, combined with evocative soundscapes, provide an abstract artistic interpretation of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and trauma, rather than explicit or graphic portrayals. The soundscapes contain loud, sudden noises and quiet times followed by overlapping noises.
Price:
£12
About the show
Imagine walking in on a stage filled with floating art. Imagine “plunging headfirst into a whirlwind of sensation, thought, and lived experience” (All Things Theatre ★★★★)
Beyond Unity “is an educational juggernaut wrapped in absurdity, a theatrical experience that demands to be felt as much as it is understood” (All Things Theatre)
A disjointed dive into dissociative identities, where comedy, movement, sound, art, and lived experiences collide and flip every five minutes.
Step into an immersive exhibition that surrounds you with the powerful artworks and voices of those with lived experience – “Favourite art exhibition ever!” ; “So beautifully visual!” (Audience members ★★★★★)
Then the chaos begins — a one-woman show where PowerPoint comedy collides with gripping movement and fervent soundscapes, capturing the visceral reality of dissociative minds, challenging their sensationalised media portrayals, and acknowledging the impact of childhood trauma and abuse.
“Playfulness crashes against harrowing depictions of trauma; laughter turns sour as absurdity gives way to unnerving reality [... ] Draghici barrels through each segment with a captivating intensity. There is a remarkable fluidity to her ability to shift personas” (All Things Theatre)
Beyond Unity blends “the brutal reality of the formation of DID, whilst scattering humour and lightness on her way” (Audience member ★★★★★)
And your voice.
Yes — yours.
Because the end belongs to you.
Reviews
“Engaging, funny, and undeniably heartfelt.” (Audience member ★★★★★)
“An ineffable exercise in compassion.” (Audience member ★★★★★)
“A striking, necessary work that lingers in the mind long after the stage has emptied.” (All Things Theatre ★★★★)
About the artist
Alexandra Draghici is a performer, comedian, producer, and drama facilitator with experience in the UK, Portugal, and Romania. Her performances span a one-woman show about dissociative identities, a dystopian multimedia satire, stand-up comedy, and a devised, highly physical piece exploring the complexities of desire and connection. Through a vibrant blend of comedy, movement, and sound, Alex challenges audiences to reimagine the world while laughing.
Image credit: Petre Draghici