A London theatre has sparked ridicule after publishing a set of minimum 12-page-long "self-care guides" giving guests "content warnings", support and more in order to help them "look after yourself".
The guides, which are produced to accompany a range of shows at the Bush Theatre in West London, contain a string of "self-care suggestions" for sensitive theatre-goers, which describe how they can go about finding support if they consider any of the themes in the productions "difficult".
The suggestions include ideas like bringing a friend, discussing "distressing" themes with trusted associates, or contacting a range of charities and helplines if needed.
One charity to which the guides link "provides various services for psychological support for people who identify as Black, African, South Asian and Caribbean".
The guides accompany a range of shows at the Bush Theatre in West London
Bush Theatre/Google
It also informs viewers to "find some nature", and reassures guests that "there is nothing wrong with deciding this isn't for you or it’s too much", suggesting they can "walk away or turn it off, do what feels right for you".
In the main handout lies a smaller guide inside on "grounding exercises"; via the following three methods, it says, audience members can "relieve stress" induced by the theatre's offerings:
- "Notice five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste."
- "Sit with your feet on the floor and back against your chair and either gently tap each leg or cross your arms and tap your shoulders."
- "Wash your hands, have a shower or drink some water."
Stephen Dixon has slammed the "nonsense" guide released by the London theatre
Bush Theatre/GB News
Elsewhere, it provides a sprawling "content warnings" list, in which what it deems potentially sensitive themes like the criminal justice system, favouritism and anxiety are flagged via easily-recognisable "emojis".
The documents - some of which reach as many as 14 pages - contain a full scene-by-scene breakdown of the shows peppered with said emojis to alert readers to the topics at hand.
The synopses of the plays mean guests in need of "content warnings" can read through an entire production ahead of time in order to check for any sensitive topics.
In one play, "Lady Dealer", about a female drug kingpin reckoning with her mental health, flags the presence of themes of drugs and sexual content alongside "references to body hatred and fatphobia' and 'references to blood".
While another, "Favour", about a multi-generational family conflict in a Pakistani household in Ilford, warns of references to drink-driving and "difficult family dynamics".
One more, "Shifters", cautions viewers that they may encounter "a depiction of a panic attack", strong language, and "discussion of disability and neurodiversity".
Reacting to the guides on GB News, host Stephen Dixon mocked the "utter nonsense" guidelines and suggested that those "triggered" by the theatre should "go to a soft play area and sob" instead.
And commentator Nigel Nelson agreed that the guidelines were "nonsense" but argued that those attending "don't have to read the guide".
GB News has approached the Bush Theatre for comment.
