Hidden: Peer Productions

Detailing the complex lives of students on the brink of their GCSEs, three stories cross paths to weave this immensely moving production, where secrets unravel, and taboo social issues are addressed. Self-harm features heavily throughout the performance, in a delicate and eye-opening fashion that unpacks the subject carefully. I have never seen a piece of theatre or film address self-harm so well – the performance truly covers every facet of the topic with relatable and realistic questions and assumptions from supporting characters.

Originally performed in 2015, Hidden is now a professionally filmed theatrical digital production available exclusively online. Designed for year 8+, Hidden has been developed in consultation with clinicians, those who have recovered from self-harm, and leading charities in the field. The high-quality production is also supported by a comprehensive teachers' pack and an interactive student guide.

Hidden addresses exactly what it says – hidden issues that students are dealing with behind closed doors. Despite only being a short production, the cast cover self-harm, body image issues, bulimia, bullying, racism, sexual abuse, childhood trauma, depression, and how individuals with these issues may interact with each other. Miraculously the show does so without being tragic or depressing, but rather uplifting and informative.

There is a huge amount of successful and impressive multi-roling from the entire cast, signified often by only changing one accessory. This includes a hugely varied age range, meaning one actress swaps between a demanding 13-year-old schoolgirl, and a grieving middle-aged mother from one scene to another.

A recurring circle of spinning trees that breaks up the play cleverly signifies open conversations between two characters, where individuals try to understand extremely difficult subjects from a different perspective. One moving moment in this circle is where the doctor says to Tash, a young girl who is suffering with body dysmorphia and bulimia, ‘It doesn't matter who you talk to, as long as it's someone you trust’.

After the production I watched, there was a Q&A, where Nina Lemon, the writer and artistic director, made clear the importance of the production, saying: ‘It can be incredibly daunting to talk about your mental health and ask for help, but if you can refer to the experience of a fictional character on stage, it can be so much easier to open up’. That is why productions like Hidden are so important – they break down taboos and kickstart a crucial conversation for students, usually at a time of great change in their lives.

www.peerproductions.co.uk