The Anatomy of Pain

About the show

Anatomy of Pain is a powerful and unflinching exploration of the dysfunctional healthcare system, following Alex’s journey to seek a diagnosis for the rare and debilitating condition, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Through an intimate and emotional performance, the show explores the impact of clinicians’ unfamiliarity and lack of empathy when faced with rare conditions.

Audiences are invited to witness the devastating impact this has on every facet of Alex’s life, from identity to relationships. Beautifully crafted and deeply moving, this interdisciplinary performance is a must-see for anyone seeking to understand the human cost of systemic failings.

After a critically acclaimed run at Brighton Fringe 2024, where it was awarded the Chair’s Bursary for Disabled Creatives, the show was also selected as one of only 180 productions to receive the Keep It Fringe Fund at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. Following its Edinburgh run, Anatomy of Pain returns to London at FUSEBOX.

Audiences describe the piece as:

⭐ ‘An incredibly important, deeply moving piece of theatre’

⭐ ‘Visceral, poetic, and painfully honest’

About the artist

Aoife Parr is a director and writer whose work explores identity, focusing on the internal experiences of being young, female, and disabled. She holds a First-Class BA in English Literature and Theatre Studies from Warwick University and a Distinction in Theatre Directing from Royal Holloway, where she trained under Katie Mitchell and was awarded the Alison Hodge Directing Prize for Excellence in Theatre Making.

Her show, anatomy of pain, performed at FUSE International Festival and the Brighton Fringe, where it won The Chair’s Bursary for Disabled Creatives. In 2023, she won the CFFS What You Will Competition for a monologue performed at The Criterion Theatre. Her screenplay, The Last Trace of Daybreak, was shortlisted for the BFI Network’s Script Lab 2023/4 and is currently in pre-production.