Lunacy at the Edinburgh Fringe

In the first year of the A level Drama course students have to create their own piece of devised work. This year, three boys, Zackary Agama, Adam Nasir and Archie Hudson Rawlings took inspiration from the Rosenhan experiment which was carried out to determine the validity of psychiatric diagnosis. They created a fascinating piece of fast paced, physical drama, set in Broadmoor, each in turn taking the parts of the experimental patients and the researchers. They were so delighted with the result that they decided to take their production to the Edinburgh Fringe.

With help from the Aldenham Annual Fund, which paid for their performance space, two shows were arranged towards the end of the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – described as the ‘world’s greatest platform for creative freedom’.

The intimate Olive Studio was ideal for this powerful production and the boys’ enthusiasm for their work drew capacity crowds on both afternoons. The feedback from the audiences was fantastic, with lots of laughs to lighten the dark side of the experiment and its outcomes. As students, staff, families and friends celebrated afterwards the performers described their experience as “overwhelming” and one that will last a lifetime.