Synopsis

A stark, sterile room in a mental hospital. Esme, an older woman, sits quietly, her eyes gleaming with a wisdom often mistaken for madness

The play centres on the unlikely friendship between Esme, an older woman institutionalised for challenging societal norms, and Shaz, a young rebel committed for disruptive behaviour and drug use. As their bond deepens, Daniels exposes the ways in which the mental health system often pathologises women who deviate from expected social roles.

Through a series of intense, often darkly humorous scenes, the play explores the subjective nature of ‘madness’ and the arbitrary lines society draws between sanity and insanity. Daniels’ sharp dialogue and nuanced characterisations reveal the strength and resilience of women facing institutional oppression. The friendship between Esme and Shaz becomes a powerful symbol of female solidarity in the face of a system designed to silence and control them.