Blue/Orange - Review!

I was super fortunate to have been invited to watch a performance of Blue/Orange at the Greenwich Theatre on the 11th of October. The story of Blue/Orange is set in a Psychiatric hospital in London in which a young Black man diagnosed with BPD, is reaching the end of his 28 day hold in the ward, and wants to be discharged. This gripping story focuses on themes of racism, mental health, suicide and emphasises the vulnerability that people face within the mental health service.

The original character of Bruce in the play was repositioned to a young South Asian woman. This character was played by Rhianne Barreto. She gave an absolutely outstanding performance. Particularly in the scene in which she is crying and struggling to remain standing, her performance was captivating. She truly gave me goosebumps. The character of the consultant was played by John Michie who was so assertive in his performance and truly gave a chilling performance when dominating power over Dr Ruby.

The character of Christopher was played by Matthew Morrison and his performance was incredible. His ability to rapidly switch between moods was so impressive and he clearly presented the thoughts going through his head. His acting was truly chilling and the scenes in which he breaks down truly left the audience stunned.

The underlying theme in this story is the unconscious prejudice that people of colour suffer on a daily basis. It makes the audience aware of how widespread this issue is, and helps raise awareness. It enables the audience to sympathise with the character of Christopher.

The story was so impactful, reflecting the negative state of todays mental health services, along with the vulnerability of the people within it. The show had very subtle aspects of humour that does not overpower the story or the message behind it.

Some content warnings to note are Mental Illness, Suicidal Tendencies, Strong Language, Smoking, Racism and Prejudice, Coercion and Power Dynamics. The story is intense and truly makes you think, giving you a change in perspective on the corrupt nature of mental health services.

This run of “Blue/Orange” ends on the 25th of October. If you get the chance, I highly recommend seeing this eye opening show.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

{gifted invite}