AN ABANDONED geology laboratory on the ANU campus is the setting for a new site-specific theatre work premiering as part of ACT Mental Health Week.

In “Atrophy,” the audience members will be guided through six spaces telling six different stories of classic Greek and Roman tragic characters through theatre, dance and film. There are four arrival times on each of the nights, ranging from 6-8.15pm, with no more than 10 people per time slot. Those who feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed will be guided to an exit. This is strictly a silent space, so mobile phones are out.

The performance has devised and directed by ANU students, Gowrie Varma and Ellie Greenwood, who were inspired to reinvent these stories, they say, “to give new insight into the way we view the mind, and how we respond to displays of grief, rage and seeming insanity.”

‘Youth mental health has been branded as a modern problem, and comes with a lot of stigma about being abnormal,’ said Varma, “With ‘Atrophy’ we use theatrical language to show that these feelings are universal…they were experienced by the ancients and they transcend the categories that we put them in today”.

The pair worked with classical texts to create a structure and starting point for development with the actors and other creatives.

“The ancients were very comfortable with putting extreme emotions on stage and grappling with the most difficult parts of human existence in a really raw way,” Greenwood says, “we were interested to look at these stories in a new light and see what they could tell us about the mind and about mental illness as we view it in the 21st century’.

“Atrophy,” at The Atrophy, Space, Buildings 101A and 101B, Liversidge St, (ANU) ACTON, 6, 6.45, 7.30 and 8.15pm, October 8 to 11. You must arrive ten minutes before your scheduled showing to be briefed. Bookings essential to trybooking.com

This show is not suitable for children. There are adult themes, mild nudity, and some sexual content. They recommend patrons of 16+. The show requires audience members to stand, outdoors, for the majority of the 1hr 20min run.