Mental health problems have been conserved by evolution for a reason. Experience the Rhyme and the Reason…
A powerful mix of performance, spoken word, poetry, humour and addictive music that will change your mind and view of subjective reality forever.
Based on real-life experiences, from anxiety to psychosis and to recovery. From a father and his psychotic son to the experiences of extraordinary people coming to terms with a rainbow of psychological issues.
A celebration of the people behind the labels, it drives a picket of pointy stakes through the stigma associated with mental illness – with a side order of songs, poetry, humour and hope.
…that momentary lapse of reason…
Hugging Barbed Wire – Rhyme and Reason (2026) reprises the very successful Brighton Fringe show, rearranged to include local talents and lived experiences. These events are aimed at raising awareness, combating stigma and providing resources for anyone suffering from, caring for someone or who is worried about mental health. There is enormous reassurance and psychological support to be gained from discovering that you are not alone…
Whether you have lived experience, care for someone who does, or simply want to experience a profound evening of theatre and connection… There’s an audience Q & A at the end of each performance, an opportunity to find out more about those experiences. All proceeds will go to local and national mental health charities.
Strand 1: the spoken, musical and video stories of people with a wide range of mental health problems.
Strand 2: the experiences of supporting families and friends.
Rhyme and Reason twists these strands into braided lives. The lives of people who may not have the right words that, perhaps, we can provide.
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Audience feedback – Brighton
This is one of the most powerful pieces of theatre I have ever seen – as a daughter of a father who committed suicide and a sufferer of bi-polar, I would like to say thank you – PLEASE take this work to a wider audience. Can hardly see through my tears… Jane Bartley
I just wanted to say that after seeing your show I feel much less alone so thank you for bravely sharing. Julie and Florence N.
Heartfelt stories. Very moving songs and gripping. Really enjoyed it – if that’s the right word! Maureen Rose
The people involved
Peter and Ross Wilson: Ross became psychotic aged 21 and descended into schizophrenia, sectioned twice. Peter used BBC help to shame the NHS into fulfilling their promises to his son. After recovery, they performed at mental health conference, schools and at the Brighton Fringe (story on main website). They also starred in the national anti-stigma TV ad campaign “Time to Change”. Sadly, relapse, living on the street, prison, but a new recovery under way. Peter has recently finished “Talking with a Limp“, a book about the psychological damage inflicted by boarding school on a polio legged boy, with TWAL poems.
Ross is a talented musician, now playing in the local band, The Neurodynamics.
Alex Grehy: Well known for nature-inspired, thought provoking verse, dark speculative fiction and local poetry readings around Surrey and Reigate. Published poetry collections include Last Species Standing, At Peace with the Night Owls, and Thoughts, Prayers and Other Curses. You can read more of Alex’s words via her blog: http://idealreaderblog.wordpress.com/: Twitter: @indigodreamers: Facebook: alex.grehy.7
Steve and Beena Ringham: Mayor of Runnymede: Previously a Green Party councillor, Steve also qualified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, with an interest in psychology and mental wellbeing gained while helping his wife, Beena, to study for her psychotherapy Masters. They are contributing a joint performance…
Pete Cranmer: Pete has provided invaluable help and advice – dramatic poetry performer based in Windsor with shows in theatres, arts centres, schools, pubs, clubs, etc. One-person shows being ‘Young Lions’ and ‘Between the In-breath and the Out.’ Also an artistic director, creator, writer, actor performing stories in schools throughout the S of England. Linkedin. Youtube. Published poetry collections.
Jericho Jay: Pavement poet and one-man civil disturbance. His theatrical spoken word turns neurodivergence, trauma and the everyday absurdity of being alive into something brutally honest, darkly funny and just unstable enough to tell the truth. Instagram
Garry Coulton: now a writer about, amongst other things, neurodivergency and a regular open mic poet. Website
Buy Tickets
Early bird tickets until 11th Sept: £5:00, thereafter £7:00. Note: concessionary tickets available on the door at £2:00 each – just persuade the gatekeeper!
Egham (back to top>>)
Windsor
Burns night meal with friends, 2019. Ross burns bright, the life and soul. 6 weeks later, we use the anniversary of my dad’s death as an excuse to visit the crematorium together, followed by pub lunch. He is – on edge. After food he becomes vocally aggressive, shouting. I have to leave. That evening he emails. He simultaneously never had a mental health problem (my having him sectioned was abuse) and all his mental health problems were caused by me. Schrödinger’s psychosis.
I spend 2 months putting intense pressure on the local mental health services and finally succeed in persuading them to act. They call to say they will turn up with the team to assess him – on the morning after he burnt down the shed (in which he had been semi-living) in the night and disappeared to, as we later discovered, Bournemouth. I contact the Bournemouth mental health services (local services doing chocolate teapot impressions) and, eventually, he is picked up by the police and taken to Prospect Park hospital in Reading for assessment. Relief is too mild a word. BUT. Fleeting. I’m told that he’s a “trustee”, allowed to come and go as he has promised to be treated in the community. I’m told he will shortly be released into that imaginary community…
Killed his guitar in the woods on new years night, videoed himself painting his room red and dark green, and put up signs like these everywhere.
“Yet to be named” was the last thing Ross achieved before crashing. Re-released as with new band as “Consumed in self”.
Smoked dope for a while, but then tried to give up following some scary symptoms. Wrote “Blame Marijuana”, prescient, but sadly too late…
While I was comatosed
Get him a doctor
Let me be nothing
Going Home
Song of Sickness
Chaos
Hugging Barbed Wire 
then where will you go..
Melancholy 
Don’t Fade