Bryony Kimmings is a theatre maker, performer and actor. Her boyfriend Tim Grayburn works in advertising. This may not seem like an obvious set-up for a theatrical collaboration, but when the subject matter is clinical depression, men's mental health and love, this unlikely pairing manages to work wonders onstage.
A meaningful show whose revelations you won’t want to miss out on.
Fake It Till You Make It begins with a comedy song and dance number about mental health. Tim and Bryony enter the theatre space wearing what appears to be wicker baskets on their heads. This sets the tone for the introduction of the performance and lets the audience know that things might not be exactly straightforward for the next hour.
We learn that Tim suffers from bouts of clinical depression and anxiety. He comes across as uncomfortable onstage and uses a variety of props to conceal his eyes from the glare of the audience. We also learn that we are witnessing a love story between two people. As the show progresses this love becomes more obvious and the audience goes on a journey learning more about their close relationship and how Tim and Bryony are tackling the heavy burden of depression. Audio clips are played throughout the performance where we hear Tim honestly revealing how he copes with his illness. Throughout the show we are also witness to more song and dance numbers. These move the story forward and offer some comedic relief to the pertinent subject matter.
Fake It Till You Make It undertakes a high degree of poignancy when Tim Grayburn steps up to the microphone and takes centre stage. He is consistently honest and passionate in his words, shifting from the mindset of an entertainer when needed, delivering a shocking and relevant statistic that suicide is the most common cause of death for men under 45 years of age. This fact, along with the poignant and strong love that the performers have for one another is what the audience will take with them when they leave the theatre. Fake It Till You Make It is a show that will make people want to talk about mental illness, and performs a vital function in that way – a meaningful show whose revelations you won’t want to miss out on.
