'ADDiCTED' is a raw and powerful true story, told through a bold lens that redefines storytelling.
A groundbreaking mime performance blending music and dance, and starring Adam Jackson and Rosemary Ochtman, through powerful movement and rhythm, 'ADDiCTED' offers a raw and artistic portrayal of addiction and mental health like never before.Crafted by the visionary minds of Karen King, Andrew Cooper, and dramaturg Emilie Collyer, 'ADDiCTED' is a true story that challenges stereotypes and sheds light on addiction and mental health in a raw, unfiltered way.
Writer and director, Cooper talks about how he embraced mime as a performative medium, using movement and music to transcend words to deliver an emotional impact that speaks directly to the soul.
"It lightens the subject up a little bit. So, it brings about a bit of theatrical into a very serious topic, and I thought as a writer I'd be writing a lot less, it'd be a lot easier but it's actually a lot harder."
Co-writer and Director, King also talks about how influential Adam Jackson was to the creative process. "He had a lot to do with developing the expression," Karen says. "We changed a lot of things when he started doing the mime and in a way it's representative of a lot of people with addictions not really having a voice.
"We've got the other character, she also struggles with addiction. She does have verbal lines to express but for Adam he doesn't have a voice, he has all the actions to express his addiction and the facial expressions tell the story very well."
When it comes to addressing a topic as heavy as addiction, breaking the stigma is something that was a crucial focus for the co-writers, with Andrew hoping it will help promote conversation around the topic.
"I think people might start connecting that if you don't have a voice that maybe having a voice about a problem is helpful and getting help is a good thing and shouldn't be shamed, shouldn't have a stigma, talking, having conversations about it with everybody so there's less stigma attached."
With a background in psychology, Karen emphasises the need for greater empathy and compassion toward those battling addiction. "I think an addiction can often be something that's ignored.
"You might have a bit of an inkling that someone's got a bit of a problem but don't talk about it. It's taking away that stigma of shame and I think realising that there's a lot more to addiction."
Setting this story apart from so many others is the co-writers experiences. Andrew touches on his personal struggles with addiction. "I look back and I think I realised that maybe I was causing some problems with my drinking with other people that were sharing in my life, and it's when it becomes problematic that that's where you really need to do something but a lot of times it's not very visible until you get a bit of a nudge."
Karen also speaks about how the performance addresses her personal struggles of loving someone with an addiction. "Sometimes you almost feel you're heartbroken for starters, but you almost feel like 'why am I always picking up the pieces?' It's not my addiction but I'm the one that's always got to do the rescuing, the picking up the pieces, making things right you know, all the rest of it that is your burden; it's something you do because you love somebody but sometimes it's like I'm not the one doing this but I'm picking up all the pieces."
Lining up their performances with the school curriculum, Karen and Andrew hope to get the performance into schools to help start those conversations earlier. "My personal experience with trying to get help for somebody with addiction there was nowhere really locally that we could actually go and get help," Karen says.
Linking to resources within their programme such as Lifeline, Alcoholics Anonymous and Beyond Blue, they hope to promote positivity around seeking help and assisting loved ones in seeking help.
Andrew is ready to kick off the run of show. "We've just come back from Melbourne, we had two rehearsals and I'm still getting goosebumps. These guys just make the whole thing a real spectacle which is amazing."
ADDiCTED plays at various venues as part of 2025 Adelaide Fringe 14-23 March.
