That’s Not My Name at Salford Arts Theatre
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Created by Covered in Jam, That’s Not My Name is billed as “75 minutes of borderline carnage”. Written and performed by artist and activist Sammy Trotman, this unique piece dives headfirst into the lived experience of being diagnosed with a personality disorder.
Blending stand-up with spoken word and musical comedy, That’s Not My Name takes a swift swipe at psychiatry, its labels and the way our mental health system is organised.
Artist Sammy Trotman, show director Jake Rix and designer Scott Ward make up the art collective Covered in Jam. Their website states that they are “obsessed with cynicism” as much as they are “obsessed with play” and alongside artwork from Chris: Simpsons Artist (if you don’t know, get to know), they also declare that they “are not a theatre company”.
Chaotic, challenging and creative, Covered in Jam explode the boundaries of performance encouraging their audience to engage in a discussion around the themes raised. That’s Not My Name does not prescribe meaning to its audience, instead, it raises questions about our mental health system and invites its audience to participate in an open and collaborative conversation after the show.
So far, That’s Not My Name has played to sell-out audiences, garnered five-star reviews, and perhaps more importantly, opened a critical debate around current practice in mental health diagnostic culture. This must-see performance descends upon Salford Arts Theatre before heading up to Edinburgh Fringe, and we definitely think it should be on your radar.
