The Maladies at Yard Theatre

The Maladies, directed by Yasmin Hafesji, written by Carmen Nasr and devised with the Almeida Young Company, has been in development since 2019, making it one of many shows hit by the strains of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, it makes a charming and thought-provoking debut as the Yard Theatre. 

The story focuses on a group of female podcasters, making the move from independent artists to a brand with professional backing, as they attempt to tell the story of exactly what is happening to the Women of Slackers – a giant corporation, where some of the female staff have suddenly and inexplicably lost the ability to speak. 

As their research unfolds, they become aware that this event is not a rarity: in fact, women have been experiencing similar bouts of turmoil for centuries,  such as in the 1508 Strasbourg Dancing Plague or the Tanzania laughing fits in 1962 – both of which are later dramatised on stage. 

From a narrative perspective, The Maladies is a little cluttered. It bounces back and forth from story to story, making it a little hard for the audience to find an anchor point. It could, perhaps, have been strengthened by some refinement of the text to focus on fewer characters – or at least allowing a “central character” to break through. However, in diversifying the characters onstage, The Maladies is also giving voices to the voiceless, using the current popularity of podcasts to generate some apt social commentary. After all, the main irony is that the podcasters themselves are being systematically silenced throughout their project. 

Praise must also be awarded to the 18-strong cast of young actors, who tackle sensitive topics with a maturity far beyond their years. Throughout, Melody Adeniran gives a particularly compelling performance as a forward-thinking young woman trying to make sense of the dancing plague. The quality of the result must also be attributed to some really powerful and nuanced writing from Nasr, whose source material gives the cast a lot to sink their teeth into.

The production is also supported by atmospheric staging and lighting design by Grace Venning and Fraser Craig, respectively. Together, they manage to transform the Yard Theatre’s rougher edges into a variety of different spaces and times. In short, The Maladies is a delightful watch that audiences are sure to enjoy. 

Abbie Grundy

The Maladies is at Yard Theatre from 21^st April until 23^rd April 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.