BATSHIT

‘She’s off her trolley. Nuttier than a fruitcake. A couple of kangaroos loose in the top paddock’.

Women have long been locked up, medicated, pathologized and silenced by a simple label - ‘crazy’.

BATSHIT is a wildly theatrical, unexpectedly funny, and deeply intimate story of female madness. Created by psycho-siren Leah Shelton (AU) and directed by Olivier award-winning performance artist Ursula Martinez (UK), this is a requiem for Leah’s grandmother Gwen, who was incarcerated for seeking independence in 1960s Australia.

BATSHIT draws on personal stories, pop psychology and Prozac-laden humour to explore the myths, fantasies and fears that keep us compliant, and the systems that let us down. Dedicated to all the women labelled hysterical, psycho, hormonal and deluded by a society that seeks to control and discredit their experiences.

BATSHIT is part of the Traverse's £1 Ticket Project.

Image: Joel Devereux

This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. Developed with the assistance of Metro Arts.

The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Reviews

★★★★★ 'Moving and thought-provoking visual theatre that’s also terrific fun' - The Age

★★★★★ ‘Technically brilliant’ – One 4 Review

★★★★★‘A show both hilarious in execution yet sobering in message’ – ThreeWeeks

★★★★ ‘Brilliantly vivid’ – The Scotsman

★★★★‘Furious fusion of cabaret and theatre’ – The Stage

★★★★ ‘A whirlwind of righteous feminist power’ – Fest Mag

★★★★‘Told with raw emotion’ – The List

★★★★ ‘A masterclass in technical execution’ – Corr Blimey

★★★★ ‘Unexpectedly funny ... deeply intimate’ – North West End

Directed with customary care and sharp humour’ – Lyn Garner

Fascinating’ – Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

‘Brilliantly realised’ – The National

‘Glamorous and guttural, bitter and sweet’ - Ed Fest Mag

“A deeply researched and considered piece ... Shelton is captivating.” - Theatre Haus

'Intense, funny, and confronting' - Backstreet Brisbane

If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.