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Poppy Radcliffe returns with the followup to her 5* show SECTIONED, seamlessly interweaving crushingly honest poetry with prose to paint a picture of life under the mental health services.

Sectioned at her peak, Poppy spiralled as she tried to come to terms with what happened and found herself in an ever enclosing web of interventions. Where physical health care focuses on recovery and independence, a diagnosis of serious mental health is considered a condition for life, one that must be managed, monitored and medicated, but when the illness is born from trauma, surely true recovery is possible.

Described as the “21st Century Sylvia Plath” (Neurodiverse Reviews 2023), Poppy takes you on her journey through than seven involuntary stays in mental words, from elation to despair, run-ins with the law and visitations from angels, her autistic, ADHD, bi-polar mind has taken her everywhere and the poetry that she wrote at peak distress brings the story to life.

In this “heart-warming, confident performance.” (Everything theatre 2023), Poppy questions whether the services always help. Enjoy the power of words as they take you into the world of one “young and very talented poet” (fringe review 2023).

News and Reviews for this Show

August 6, 2025  On the Mic From the press release to Poppy Radcliffe’s show, Sectioned – Schrödinger’s Mental Health “A mental health service that works should be measured in its ability to make itself redundant, yet year on year waiting lists increase, the number of admissions to mental wards increase, the number of suicides in hospitals increase and the victims are getting younger and younger. “One suicide in a place that is meant to be a place of refuge is too many. We say it is unfortunate; that people have complex needs and there is nothing to be done. But what if there is? What if just a few tweaks could turn an ailing system into one that truly promotes recovery?” In, Sectioned – Schrödinger’s Mental health, Poppy Radcliffe delivers a multimedia investigation into acute inpatient mental health care drawing on her own experiences of being sectioned eight times in nine years. This is not a comedy show. It’s a powerful real-life story and a manifesto for change. It’s also the best show that I’ve seen at the Edinburgh Fringe this year so far. Click Here

August 6, 2025 Fringe Review Groundbreaking Work Poppy Radcliffe presents an intelligent and deeply personal one-woman performance exploring what it means to live with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder — and how that label begins to define not just the person, but every interaction they have. At its core, this is a show about identity, perception, and power. The performer skilfully weaves her personal story with evidence from NHS reports, mental health statistics and media headlines. This is not anecdote, the grounding in research adds weight and urgency to her lived experience. The visual backdrop – a mix of video, images, and striking headlines – adds richness and resonance, though at times it competes with Radcliffe’s presentation for our attention. The visuals are strongest when they add to the focus of what’s being said. Some of the interplay between screen and stage works beautifully; other moments might benefit from further refinement to ensure each element serves the whole. What elevates this piece is its layered approach: she doesn’t just tell us what happened to her, she analyses it, challenges it, and offers ideas for change. There is depth here, and a refusal to simplify. She is compelling when she steps away from the lectern to perform her poetry, learned and embodied – these are the moments the show breathes and soars. Her insight into how neurodiversity and mental health crises are handled – the contrast between growing awareness around autism and ADHD versus the discomfort and fear still surrounding bipolar disorder – is thought-provoking. So too is her observation that workplaces rally around physical illness but often distance themselves from those in mental health crisis. Return to work sometimes simply doesn’t happen. Threaded through it all are ways in which services could improve, often in small but significant ways. Her critique of the infantilising nature of many creative activities is particularly sharp: why, she asks, should highly creative people in crisis be handed crayons? This is not just a performance – it’s a provocation, a question, a challenge. It deserves a place at every mental health conference. With so much to teach – both professionals and the public – this is a voice that needs to be heard. A powerful ground breaking approach to sharing deeply personal experience in ways that might just effect significant change. Click Here

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