Sleep and the City | Emma-June Curik
“I wasn’t lazy. I wasn’t crazy.” – Emma-June Curik
The exceptionally talented Emma-June Curik has created an incredible piece of art with Sleep and the City. The performance is about Emma-June's narcolepsy and how a late diagnosis affected her life and self-perception.
The performance was a thought-provoking experience that left me with a whirlwind of emotions. It combined the three things that tend to lead to the best original work: raw vulnerability, education on a misunderstood topic, and catharsis. This combination seemed to result in a unique sense of community and belonging that I hadn’t expected.
Image from Undercover Artists Festival
Emma-June’s enchanting voice was an absolute delight to experience. She cleverly uses sleep-related songs to convey her journey with narcolepsy. The approach was engaging and gave unique insights into her personal experience while also remaining fun. The way Emma-June intertwined her narrative with popular melodies added a deeper level of connection and resonance, making her performance both musically and emotionally engaging.
Personally, this piece made me feel less isolated in my own journey with disability and diagnosis. I couldn’t help but draw parallels between Emma-June’s journey and the challenges I faced with a late ADHD diagnosis. Like Emma-June, I felt validated and a weird sense of joy when I first received my diagnosis because it gave me a ‘why?’ It helped me work towards accepting that I’d never been ‘lazy’ or ‘crazy’. Our experiences led to internalised ableism, which makes self-acceptance very tough. Like our conditions, our acceptance and understanding of ourselves are ever-changing and never-ending.
This ‘premiere’ performance added an extra layer of excitement to the entire experience, heightening the anticipation and energy in the room. What truly stood out, however, was the unique atmosphere in the audience, which differed from my usual theatre experiences. The individuals seated on either side of me introduced themselves warmly and engaged in conversations before the show began. The vibe within the venue felt incredibly inclusive, forming a tight-knit community for the evening.
As the performance unfolded, there was a tangible sense of unity among the audience members. The empathy and emotional connection between the audience and the artist were palpable. One of my neighbours shed tears towards the show’s conclusion. Witnessing a visceral response to art can be powerful, as it often ignites a similar intensity of emotions within myself. It’s a connection that I often long for when experiencing live performance, and it’s not something that occurs with such potency every time. Emma-June's performance achieved the goal of most performance makers by making the audience feel deep emotions.
Sleep and the City was an awe-inspiring performance that has really given me a lot to consider. It reminded me to be kinder to myself and of the power of community. Multiple times throughout the piece, Emma-June and the audience gave me literal goosebumps. This emphasises the weighty impact that performance art, but also community, can have on someone. It was a night when the audience became an integral part of the art, creating a unique and unforgettable sense of belonging. It’s a shame this performance only went for one night because I think everyone should get to experience that feeling.
