Tales of silent suffering through monologues
Women, who have close experiences of depression, pour their hearts out in stage production 'What happened to You?', reports Cheng Yuezhu.
By CHENG YUEZHU | China Daily | Updated: 2024-09-14 10:14
The project was initiated by young artist Li Ruqi, better known as Kouzi. With herself and a few friends having gone through depression, she observed that when encountering individuals with depression, people often ask them what happened, in an attempt to find a logical answer so they'd understand.
However, for those with depression, this question can be overwhelming and nearly impossible to explain, since the personal, intricate and painful sentiments are difficult to convey. So, most of the time, they'd simply respond, "Nothing. I'm fine."
"Depression isn't something that can be generalized. Each person's causes and experiences are unique. So, rather than highlighting the concept of depression with a fixed narrative, I'd rather give everyone a chance to express themselves," she says.
Along with Liao, the director, she reached out to her close friends to find those who are willing to participate in the production and share their experiences onstage.