YAWN: A Chronically Fatigued Play by Hollie Christian-Brookes Review

At The Golden Goose Theatre

A play about chronic illness and disability, straight from the (palpitating) heart.

We were instantly welcomed on walking into the Golden Goose Theatre, by both the staff and the atmosphere. It has the warmth of an old pub, with its dark wood fittings and soft, sink-in-able sofas. I am still grieving the loss of the beloved Warehouse Theatre in my hometown of Croydon (bulldozed but not forgotten). As I glanced at the leaflets for other upcoming performances, I felt heartened to find the same sense of creative bravery here,  a small space daring to tell difficult human stories. As we sat with our pre-show drinks, I couldn’t help but glance around the space and wonder who else might be a fellow “chronic illness warrior,” given the subject matter of the play. I must admit that I had high hopes that this piece would reflect some shared experiences of invisible disability.

YAWN: A Chronically Fatigued Play by Hollie Christian-Brookes did not disappoint. The performance is anchored by Christian-Brookes, stumbling through the confusion of a young woman with a job, a social life, and the freedom of possibilities, who gets ill and does not get better. Christopher Irvine plays everyone else with such sustained energy that I lost count of the accents and characters. The simplicity of the staging only sharpened the emotional impact. It was impossible not to be moved as the performance spiralled between light comedy, despair, and frustration.

The writing and performance manage to balance raw honesty with humour and hope without ever feeling like a lecture. The play explores society’s discomfort with long-term illness, the fear of what can’t be “fixed,” and the quiet courage (and suffering) of those who live it daily — all without being preachy or bleak. It’s the kind of piece I wish my friends, family, and especially health and social care professionals could see. In fact, Yawn could translate beautifully into an interactive, educational workshop for health and social care staff,  a tool to open conversation, challenge assumptions, and deepen understanding of invisible disabilities. The project feels as though it has been realised through sheer will, and I hope it will continue to develop its potential.

“Not everyone’s story, but a story for everyone,” as the main character aptly puts it.

Golden Goose Theatre

146 Camberwell New Road

Camberwell

London

SE5 0RR