The interview below didn’t really go the way I wanted it to, and I was quite scared about giving it. The show is not autobiographical, and my experience with eating disorders, my own and what I have witnessed happening to those I love, informs only my understanding. I’m not an expert and we speak in the show about this issue to raise awareness and create new understanding, not to promote an agenda.
- Saraid
- Saraid
Stomaching Bulimia on stage at BATS
- Amy Jackson
Published January 25, 2015 in stuff.co.nz The impact of eating disorders is often a taboo subject, but one show is hoping to change that. Stomach travels back through two girls' friendship to explain what happened to cause the relationship to fall apart. It opens at Bats Theatre on January 27. It tackles issues of self-esteem, depression and eating disorders and includes a dance medley, rouged satin skirts, 1990s music and lip syncing. Actors and writers Amelia Reynolds and Saraid Cameron write about their own experiences, so the play is inspired by the unhealthy choices and relationships they have gone through or witnessed. Cameron has suffered from bulimia and said she drew on her experiences for the show, but it was not all true to life. |
Important issues: Amelia Reynolds as Amy measures the bus of Saraid Camerson as Sara in a play about eating disorders and female issues.
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"My experiences have allowed us to tell the story in a way that makes people feel more," she said. "We know what we are talking about, so can convey that to people better."
Cameron's disorder arose when she became depressed.
"I suffered with it quite badly for half a year. It affected how I talked to people, and when I went out with my friends. I didn't feel comfortable talking to anyone. My skin got really bad, my nails were discoloured and my teeth were horrible."
For most of the day, she thought about food, and about eating in secret and then getting rid of the food. But it was not about the food, she said.
"When I started seeing someone about it, he said the disorder was being caused by depression, so he was going to treat that. Once I started sorting out other parts of my life I stopped needing to purge or use food in that way."
The play arose because Cameron felt the portrayal of eating disorders in popular culture was wrong.
"It's made out to be something people get over really easily. I watched something on Glee, where they dealt with it in one episode and then the character was fine. It made me mad. It's nice to talk about it and show it for what it is."
During last year's Auckland season, the duo worked with Eating Disorders Association New Zealand, which endorsed the show and promoted it.
"They did say that if you were in early recovery it might not be a good idea. But they were really happy people were talking about eating disorders."
Despite the heavy material, the show is far from doom and gloom.
"For all the things the characters go through, it's still really fun. The girls love being together. The audience love when they're fighting as well, because there's something fun about watching two people really let rip at each other on stage."
- The Wellingtonian
Cameron's disorder arose when she became depressed.
"I suffered with it quite badly for half a year. It affected how I talked to people, and when I went out with my friends. I didn't feel comfortable talking to anyone. My skin got really bad, my nails were discoloured and my teeth were horrible."
For most of the day, she thought about food, and about eating in secret and then getting rid of the food. But it was not about the food, she said.
"When I started seeing someone about it, he said the disorder was being caused by depression, so he was going to treat that. Once I started sorting out other parts of my life I stopped needing to purge or use food in that way."
The play arose because Cameron felt the portrayal of eating disorders in popular culture was wrong.
"It's made out to be something people get over really easily. I watched something on Glee, where they dealt with it in one episode and then the character was fine. It made me mad. It's nice to talk about it and show it for what it is."
During last year's Auckland season, the duo worked with Eating Disorders Association New Zealand, which endorsed the show and promoted it.
"They did say that if you were in early recovery it might not be a good idea. But they were really happy people were talking about eating disorders."
Despite the heavy material, the show is far from doom and gloom.
"For all the things the characters go through, it's still really fun. The girls love being together. The audience love when they're fighting as well, because there's something fun about watching two people really let rip at each other on stage."
- The Wellingtonian