Surfacing

Mental health has only begun to break through taboos in recent years, and Surfacing is perhaps one of the first shows to push the boundaries of what the spectrum of mental health consists of, as well as the problematic nature of how it is tackled in the UK and beyond.

Surfacing follows the story of a therapist, Luc (played by Rosie Gray), who has an encounter with a man called Owen (played by Daniel Rainford). His guilt triggers her own, and what follows is a myriad of insights into the minds of those who haven’t been given the space to deal with their psychological issues. Directed by Stephen Bailey, it further touches upon themes of animal testing and suicide.

Up until Luc has the experience of falling into the water, the show is a fascinating look into how mental health is handled in the UK, and also manages to carefully tread the line between the help that is offered and how it can err into the theory-based care rather than the practical needs of the patient.

However, where it loses its footing is through the introduction of therianthropic mice who turn an otherwise poignant study of the human mind into somewhat of a farce. Of course, it does help to shed light on the more extreme forms of mental health that can exist, such as schizophrenia but it spends too long in the absurd so that the audience loses the sense of what story is being told. That being said, Daniel Rainford’s eclectic abilities as an actor shine through as he takes on all the characters that Luc (Gray) encounters, often from off-stage, helping to sell the story that is being put before us.

All in all, this play is a good commentary on what it means to suffer in silence with mental health and the unfortunate lack of continuity as part of the underfunding of the NHS. However, the ambiguities that follow in the second half, exposing the dangers of mental health being unchecked, though a very real issue, make its message less clear.

Natallia Pearmain
Images: Alex Brenner

Surfacing is at the Vaults from 14^th February until 19^th February 2023 as part of Vault Festival 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here. For further information about Vault Festival, visit here.