I was moved by 'The Expulsion of Exulansis'. As a retired therapist I felt it rang true. The group scenes were great, and some of the one-to-ones held dark humour. It was well written and touched me. I felt close to tears at the end, and warmed by the closing note of redemption.
Hard-hitting, raw and straight from the heart - both the writing and the performances of a versatile cast. Amazing courage in the telling of this story (her own) - from a gorgeous young woman with so much promise - please keep writing, for yourself and for what it puts in the open for so many! Wonderful family involvement - and a shout out to work of Samaritans.
This play is both evocative and powerful, addressing the sensitive topics of depression and self-harm with remarkable grace and empathy. It provides valuable insights into the experiences of individuals grappling with mental health challenges. Truly exceptional and serves as an enlightening experience. I encourage everyone to support the talented writer and the entire team involved, as they represent a cause that extends beyond the performance itself.
As a father of two daughters, watching "The Expulsion of Exulansis" was an emotionally charged experience. The play delves deep into the harrowing realities of mental health struggles faced by many young people today. It's heart-wrenching to think that my daughters might face similar challenges, but this play offered a beacon of hope.
It powerfully conveys the message that with understanding and support, we can fight for change and create a safer world for our children. This is a must-see for anyone committed to mental health awareness and advocacy.
As a parent and a professional who works with people suffering from anxiety, I was spellbound from the very beginning of this play. It was so relatable.
I felt a connection to the characters deeply and felt like I had a front row seat inside Siyani's mind and not just her play. What a remarkable young woman.
It was raw, honest, beautifully scripted and served as a powerful reminder that teenage mental health struggles need to be taken more seriously by us all. This is a play that deserves a much wider platform and reach. I look forward eagerly, to see what Siyani goes on to create in the future.
This is a show which stops you in your tracks - heartfelt performance with a personal and raw edge that hits each and everyone of your emotions - you leave uplifted knowing that through the spirit of the love of family that dark days will pass and your journey is continous.
The play was an emotional rollercoaster. Every actor delivered a fantastic performance, truly capturing the essence of Siyani's struggles and making the play deeply impactful. If you are in Edinburgh and attending other events at the Fringe Festival, experience this play. It is a must-watch!
Fantastic performance based on true story with deep meaning behind, that helps to understand better those in need of help and who are struggling with their wellbeing.
Highly recommended for young adults! Well done!
Went to the opening afternoon, what a fantastic production, so brave to share such personal experiences, if you are in Edinburgh and want to understand more about the mental health pandemic we are living through I would recommend this show.
Mental health awareness is such an important topic in today's world and this performance does an incredible job of shining a light on that. Well done to the extremely talented Siyani and her team for an outstanding show and for sharing your journey with us. I will look out for you next year!
An important story, bravely told. Parents and friends and lovers of young souls dealing with issues of self harm and suicidal ideation will welcome this deeply felt insight into these themes. Thank you cast and writer for your hearts and vulnerability.
It's a brilliant, heartwarming and important piece. Well done to Siyani, this helped me as a father of young girls and will no doubt effect many others.
"What a wonderful play. My colleagues and I all loved it. it was far more layered and professional than we could have ever imagined. We are sure the audience will have all learned a lot and the play will stay with everyone."
"Such a moving, emotional and insightful evening.Siyani Sheth, I can't even imagine what you've been through...but, you were brave enough to put it all out there and you gave us a window into your life and your experiences. As a dad, your 'gift' to me - helping me understand better the stuff you teenagers go through - hopefully means I can be better father to my own daughter. You are talented beyond belief and you have so much to offer our world. I look forward to seeing you 'set the world on fire'."
“Last night was a real triumph, and so impressive and important on so many levels, for young people to know they are not alone, for friends and family to understand the journey of mental illness, and for our society to understand that speaking about difficulties is a critical step towards healing. I loved the set, the dialogue, the staging, it was all so brilliant and moving.”
“Tonight I witnessed bravery beyond anything I have known.
I am still in tears and so moved… I felt so privileged to be in the audience.”
"I was touched by Siyani's bravery, talent and most importantly, her focus on increasing public awareness. It was well balanced with being both emotional and at times humorous. To say it was a breath of fresh air is an understatement, it was like fresh oxygen!"
“I felt so emotional after the play…the most important part for me was Siyani’s dialogue with her younger self (in the closing scene).”
“Powerful story and piece of work. It was a privilege to have been able to see it brought to life in the way it was.“
“The play was so raw and authentic and all the more powerful for that.”
“An impressively full house immersed in her experience, which will now inform ours. Beautifully crafted, so personal and real. During the interval and as we travelled home, Siyani’s story prompted discussion and opportunities to share our own stories. What a gift to generate that sort of sharing.”
“An impressive piece of theatre - raw, honest and brave. Touching and emotive - a window into a personal world offering insight for others”.
“ I have no doubt that it will help many young people and their parents better understand the struggles associated with mental health and, I hope, advance the discussion in dispelling the stigma which is sadly still associated with it.”
“…we see a lot of amazing theatre. Well last night, we were blown away by the talent and importance of this incredible play written by my friend’s phenomenal 17 year old daughter. Tough topics we should all talk about - teenager mental health and sexual assault and more importantly, healing!”
“I thought Siyani’s play was brilliant. The play itself draws you in and the. You remember that it is based on fact… Siyani is doing a wonderful thing to bring mental health to the forefront of conversations, and in breaking down any remaining stigma around it.”
“ Thank you for sharing your story and allowing me and everyone else at your shows into your world. I only wish more people could watch it too.”
“It was very well balanced with being both emotional and humerous at times.”
“To say it was a breath of fresh air is an understatement, it was like fresh oxygen.”