Based on a true story, The Silent Treatment is a moving, funny and uplifting new solo show combining story-telling, physical theatre and song to explore how the body remembers what the mind forgets. From award-winning writer and performer Sarah-Louise Young, creator of An Evening Without Kate Bush and Julie Madly Deeply, The Silent Treatment explores the singer’s own story of voice loss and the unexpected journey of self-revelation that followed.
Vocal surgery in the singing industry is shrouded in mystery. Singers who undergo it are encouraged to keep quiet for fear of being considered damaged goods. A professional singer and performer for 22 years, Sarah-Louise Young had sung live on national television, performed in the West End and around the world, yet unbeknownst to most people, she had struggled with sporadic voice loss for the first 14 years.
Having bravely reached the point of exploring surgery, she found the cause of her vocal injury was linked directly to a sexual attack she had experienced when she was just seven years old. Although her mind had recovered, her body it turned out, had not. This discovery meant that she could move forward and seek the medical and psychological care she needed.
However, despite the overwhelming success of the surgery eight years ago, she was strongly advised by industry professionals to hide the truth: if she opened up about her operation she would be seen as a liability, someone not to be trusted. Finally free from the scars of her attack over three decades before, her voice felt strong and powerful for the first time. But, instead of celebrating this fact, she was met by shame.
Speaking to other singers, Sarah-Louise learnt of discrimination across the industry, of people who would rather fake an accident or injury to cover the fact they needed to take time off for vocal rest, than risk telling the truth.
The Silent Treatment begins as a story of a singer’s loss but deepens into an exploration of how our voices shape all of us and how our identity is influenced by the voices and messages we hear around us. We all have moments where we feel silenced, belittled and shut down and, here, Sarah-Louise Young explores the power and cost of speaking out.
Sarah-Louise Young comments If I hadn’t been a singer I might never had begun this journey of self-discovery and seen how an event from three decades before was still impacting my life. I needed to heal fully. In telling my story I hope I will be able to amplify the voices of other people who have gone through similar trauma or felt unable to speak their truth. I hope that by showing up and sharing my vulnerability, other people will feel seen and heard too. Ultimately, this is a story of success, healing and a singer re-discovering the joy of song.
Sarah-Louise Young will also be performing An Evening Without Kate Bush throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Assembly Piccolo Tent at 17:55. In addition, Looking For Me Friend: The Music Of Victoria Wood which she directed will also appear at this year’s Fringe in the Drawing Room at 14:30.
