WAYTCo and the City of Perth present TEARS

“‘Tears!’ A revolutionary new product and a breakthrough for medical science! Scientists have discovered a way of bottling and administering actual human emotion for use in cases of severe depression or mental illness. The treatment, also know as ‘Emotional Replacement Therapy’ uses actual human tears specially treated for human medical consumption. It is believed that this new therapy will not only revolutionize the medical industry but could also save countless lives.” (Press release from World Health Association) “Tears” is the new work from The WA Youth Theatre Co. Drawing influences from the likes of sci-fi writers Philip K. Dick and others “Tears” takes a dark look at the human psyche, medical science and what makes us all human; emotion. At the Yirra Yaakin Space in Central Perth this December, the Western Australian Youth Theatre Company ensemble and the City of Perth proudly present ‘TEARS’ ‘TEARS’ takes place in a world much like ours, with one important difference – the power of human tears. In this imagined world, the consuming of tears gives you a natural high. Prescribed as ‘emotional replacement therapy’, human tears can be of benefit to people with chronic depression, manic anxiety or boredom. Supplied by a black market of tears harvesters and dealers, recreational users and addicts are at all levels of society, searching for the ultimate teardrops – those of innocents, and those of intergenerational hurt. But what happens when the tears give you more than just a high? What happens when they start to give you visions? And what if those visions are of something so compelling that you need to find out who cried? This devised theatre piece tells an intriguing tale of mystery, suspense, action and drama performed by WAYTCo’s youth ensemble, hand picked from open casting auditions of the finest of Perth’s theatre talent. Directed by emerging director Patrick Downes, from a concept arising out of workshops with youth theatre members.