ZooNation: Raising awareness about mental health through theatre

Tommy Franzen, who plays Dr Ernst Sven Sjogren-Kvist, says his character is on a journey during the production, and his perceptions shift once he has a better understanding of what people are facing.

“Their behaviour may seem odd to many but when you hear their story, you start to sympathise with them and their behaviour starts making sense,” he says.

“My character is a person who at the beginning of the show sees the world in black and white, right or wrong. This has probably come from his education, as he had only just graduated. As the show goes on, all his beliefs get challenged and eventually he loses his mind (or gains it) as expressed through a dance solo.”

The music in this production was created by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, who worked alongside Kate Prince to bring her narrative to life. It incorporates various musical styles, artists and influences, with each character getting their own unique musical motif.

Ms Prince thinks the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party will be a positive theatrical experience: “The show makes you feel alive and free, and inspired that the dancers and the singers are just exceptional and the music is really uplifting.

“It is always good to try something new. I am always telling my daughter to try something new,” she says.

ZooNation also offers industry-led workshops for school, community and educational groups, who would like to discover more about the creative process, choreography and the characters behind the show.

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is at the Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre, 4–24 September, 2024