Fragments

Reviews

'Fragments' by Canberra-based playwright, Maura Pierlot, is a powerful set of stories about young people struggling with emotional, social, physical and mental issues during their teenage years. Eight inter-connected monologues give us a deep insight into the personal lives of these people.  It's disturbing, revealing and ultimately quite moving.'

(Len Power, Canberra Critics Circle)

Despite the angst, the script also contains moments of genuine humour, of wit, and of hope. The tragedy isn't so much the pain the characters feel, but the fact that they're so consumed by it that they don't notice that everyone else feels it too. And by pointing this out, Fragments opens up the vital possibility of connection. (Erin Stewart, ArtsHub)

These eight young people have the same central concern that I remember: is my outward presentation true to my real internal self? Under the onslaught of 24/7 Instagram images and over-the-top positive and negative judgmental commentary from peers, I think struggling through that ten-year period from, say, (ages) 14 to 24, which I remember well, is made far more fearful for this generation. No wonder mental health issues are so much more on the public agenda today than in yesteryear. So it should be, and this play has a valuable role to play. (Frank McKone, Canberra Critics Circle)

In summary, Fragments is a raw and contemporary play that blends a smidgeon of Woolf, something of The Breakfast Club's vibe, and a whole lot of modern concerns and challenges faced by Australian teens today. There's merit to found if you go and watch it - but be warned that you might just fall to pieces in the process. (New Territory, Rosalind Moran)

Audience testimonials

Fragments is an unflinching look at mental health issues confronted by young people today. Raw, unsettling, ironic, funny, heartbreaking, authentic - it is all of this and more (E Toohey)

A brilliant, powerful and honest take on mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it. Thought-provoking and brilliantly performed, Fragments cleverly tackles issues that affect nearly everyone in our community but are not discussed nearly as often as they should be (M Barhen)

Maura Pierlot's Fragments is thoughtful and heartbreaking, giving the audience a comprehensive insight into the causes and realities of mental health issues in today's teens. While the subject matter is heavy, there is a great sense of hope. (H Bidwell)