Stepping into Beyond Unity feels less like entering a conventional theatre piece and more like plunging headfirst into a whirlwind of sensation, thought, and lived experience. Alex Draghici’s one-woman performance is a bold, unflinching exploration of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), blending comedy, movement, sound, and visual art into an experience that is as disorienting as it is enlightening. What at first feels like a chaotic jumble of ideas soon reveals itself as a carefully structured deep dive into dissociation, drawing the audience into its fragmented yet deeply cohesive world.
Draghici fully commits to the role of guide through this complex landscape, her performance teetering on the edge of absurdity with the kind of over-the-top, manic energy usually reserved for children’s television presenters. This deliberate stylistic choice is coupled with jarring shifts in tone, abrupt changes in pacing, and moments of pure theatrical anarchy, mirroring the perceived fractured nature of dissociation itself. The show thrives on juxtaposition: childlike playfulness crashes against harrowing depictions of trauma; laughter turns sour as absurdity gives way to unnerving reality.
Throughout the performance, the structure of Beyond Unity unfurls in a way that is almost imperceptible at first. What begins as seemingly disconnected segments gradually coalesces into a greater whole, revealing layers of meaning and depth as the piece progresses. The exhibition-style opening where audience members are surrounded by artwork, information and soundscapes about DID immediately sets the tone, immersing us in a world that feels simultaneously unusual, childlike and deeply human. Even here, before Draghici takes centre stage, discomfort and introspection begin to take root; the crowding of bodies, the stillness, and the voiceover’s observations prime us for what’s to come.
As the core performance unfolds, Draghici barrels through each segment with a captivating intensity. There is a remarkable fluidity to her ability to shift personas, the main focus delivering a parody of an unhinged TED Talk, the next channelling pure, visceral rage. This ability to move seamlessly between humour, horror, and sincerity allows Beyond Unity to challenge the audience’s understanding of DID in a way that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The comedy- relentless and Kaufmanesque- often leaves us unsure whether to laugh or recoil, blurring the line between entertainment and discomfort. The use of memes as a tool, for instance, generates a mix of amusement and unease, forcing the audience to confront how dissociation is trivialised or misunderstood in popular culture.
Yet, for all its chaos, Beyond Unity is not without moments of clarity and stillness. The final section of the show strips away the humour and abstraction, allowing for a moment of honest reflection. The noise fades, and in its place is a raw, grounded sincerity that lingers long after the performance ends. Draghici’s invitation for the audience to contribute their own thoughts transforms the space into something communal in a rare opportunity for dialogue, understanding, and shared experience.
What makes Beyond Unity such a compelling piece of theatre is its refusal to spoon-feed its audience. The structure is intentionally fractured, leaving room for interpretation, personal connection, and even confusion. But by the time the performance reaches its conclusion, the dots begin to connect, and the scale of what Draghici has accomplished becomes apparent. This is a piece that not only informs but embodies the experience it seeks to convey.
DID remains one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented conditions in the public consciousness, often sensationalised by the media or reduced to crude stereotypes. Beyond Unity takes on the mammoth task of dismantling these misconceptions, offering instead a nuanced, deeply human portrayal of dissociation. It is an educational juggernaut wrapped in absurdity, a theatrical experience that demands to be felt as much as it is understood.
While its relentless energy and unconventional structure may not be for everyone, those willing to engage with its unique storytelling will find Beyond Unity to be a striking, necessary work that lingers in the mind long after the stage has emptied.
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