GCASFM is all about the arts and farts, supporting creatives in their efforts to bring attention to IBD in their own unique way, along with all the crap that goes with it! With that in mind, we’d love to draw your attention to the inspiring stage production ‘Sh*t Happens’. The brainchild of Ulcerative Colitis patient Patrycja Dynowska, will soon be on stage in London’s West End for your viewing pleasure.
“Clinical space. A toilet seat. Smile. Suffer. Hide. Repeat. No one sees the struggle unless it’s visible.”
How many times did you walk into a public toilet after someone and couldn’t stand the smell?
How many times did you curse or call someone names because they occupied the toilet for too long? Has the thought of them having a serious chronic disease ever crossed your mind?
I bet it didn’t.
Sh*t Happens is a multidisciplinary performance exploring the taboos and challenges of living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, drawing on personal experience of one of the more than 300,000 people affected in the UK. The performance deals with the awkward and often embarrassing subject in a light and humorous way that is not deprived of its importance and seriousness.
Through the use of technology, autobiographical stories and poetry, the spectator gradually discovers the inconvenient aspects of living with an invisible disease. From the obvious medical symptoms to what may seem unthinkable or even silly to a ‘normal’ person, Sh*t Happens takes you on a journey to a familiar yet unknown world.
A message from Patrycja:
“My name is Patrycja, I’m an actress and I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis. I’m currently doing a performance, called ‘Sh*t Happens’ about the struggles and challenges of living with IBD based on my 6.5 year journey with it.
I will be performing the show between 18th and 22nd June at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden (18-21st 6:15pm and 22nd 2:30pm and 6:15pm). There will be a Post-Show talk after the performance on 20th June with myself and Alex Cheshire, IBD nurse at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
I have recently performed a work-in-progress show at Sheffield at a small festival where it received great feedback and opened people’s eyes on an issue they had no idea about. I’m very excited to perform ‘Sh*t Happens’ in front of a larger audience.
I believe that it’s very important to spread the word about these debilitating illnesses and for me to best way to do that is through theatre. “
Here’s a link to the website where you can find more information about the show:
https://www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk/whats-on/sht-happens
Or alternatively you check out my Instagram or twitter profile @shithappensLDN #shithappensLDN