'Mental Illness Is Not A Crime' - a live art performance of ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian responses) experiences

Meet Claire Fitzpatrick, creative producer for Haus Of Beaver Productions, and an award-winning speculative fiction author and performance artist who has produced independent performance art in Brisbane since 2015.

Tell us about the show in 100 words or less

'Mental Illness Is Not A Crime' is a one-hour immersive, interactive, and live art performance of ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian responses) experiences. With body painting, letter writing, hair brushing, as well as interaction with textures, foods, and scents, and ending with guided meditation, the show is an extension of a previous show with Vulcana Circus and Ruckus Brisbane. Inspired by artists Carolee Schneeman and Marina Abramovic, 'Mental Illness Is Not A Crime' aims to break down barriers between our mental and physical selves, and allow us to reconnect with others through immersion and touch. 

Anywhere Festival takes place anywhere but a theatre. Tell us about your venue. What is it about your space that adds to your audience experience?

Elements Collective is a multi-award winning hip-hop dance company who also provide creative studio spaces for performance artists to showcase their work. My show will be hosted in the smaller downstairs area, a smaller, more intimate space just perfect for 'Mental Illness Is Not A Crime.' Here audiences will feel nice and cosy!

What is your creative process like?

To be honest, for my performance art, everything usually stays in my head until opening night – it's rare I write things down! I've also always worked independently, so have never needed to rehearse or work with a team, and this works for me. However, as this is my first time producing, and it's flippin' AnywhereFest, I've been documenting everything in an exercise book . I like to physically write instead of type. Helps to get my jumbled ideas out of my head. So I have pages and pages of notes and crossed out or circled words, underlined sentences, dot points, sentences written down the margins, and a lot of question marks. That's what professionals do, right? Right? Also, as this is flippin' AnywhereFest, I've actually asked for guidance for the first time, and had a meeting with Celia White from Vulcana to cement the ideas I had and find new ones to make the show work. And gosh, the notes I took are a jumbled mess. It's a wonder I can read my own handwriting. Random words are circled or written in boxes – its all over the place. Yet somehow it makes sense. That's just how my brain works, I suppose.

Tell us your origin story. How did your company start?

Haus Of Beaver Productions was created because I needed a producer name for my show, and I didn't want to use my own. I perform comedy routines as Consuela Beaverhausen – if you've watched 'Friends' and 'Will and Grace' you'll get the reference. Also, I watch a lot of German shows and WW2 documentaries, so 'hausen' seemed especially apt. Haus Of Beaver Productions is just little ol' me. I do everything myself – creating, producing, preparing – everything. I might get a team together one day. Maybe. But probably not. I'm too shy to ask!

Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?

Anyone who is willing share their thoughts and feelings with others in a comfortable and safe environment. This isn't a therapists office. This isn't a scary chat with yourself in the mirror. This is just you attending entering a sensory and artistic environment to collaborate with others – most of whom are likely strangers – and release some tension or stress in your life, if only for a while. Bonus points if you actually know what ASMR is!

Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?

If you're interested in checking out something similar, check out Emma White's YouTube channel 'My Purple Life.' She's a brilliant ASMRtist and may give you some idea of what my show is about.
PS – I know a lot of people can be scared about mental health, or opening up to others, but just remember this is a safe space, we're all human, and I will never judge anyone. I am a holistic freak who wants to teach others about the soothing therapy of ASMR and sensory relaxation. Also, body painting is fun!

Mental Illness Is Not A Crime takes place as part of Anywhere Festival on Friday May 7 and Saturday May 8.
at Elements Collective Fortitude Valley.

Image credit: Alana Freelance.