Something Got a Hold of Me

Something Got a Hold of Me is a performance about religious cults, charismatic leaders, power, persuasion, weakness and how everyone is really just looking for something, a little something to make them happy. The audience and the performers are immersed in the strange and complex worlds of religious cults: a girl sends a message home to her parents; strange drinks are handed out to the audience; someone tries to persuade the audience to leave; a suicide attempt becomes a dark farce.

From charismatic leaders, their persuasive rhetoric and illusory ‘miracles’, to the sense of community and togetherness that cults create, Something Got a Hold of Me creates a sinister but inviting world, where the audience are at once in a cult and taking part in a strange theatrical game being played out in front of them. This piece challenges its audience to stand out from the crowd, to speak up, to shout out, and even get up if they wish – even if everyone else is going along with what they’ve been asked or coerced into doing.

The show is made for community centres, meeting rooms and halls. It is staged in the round for an audience of no more than 50 people.

Something Got a Hold of Me takes as its starting point a number of 20th Century religious cults, specifically the People’s Temple in Jonestown (1978) and Waco, Texas (1993). It also uses as source material a number of British cults explored by William Shaw in his book ‘Spying in Guru Land’.

Something Got a Hold of Me is the final piece we made together.

Conceived by Matthew Austin
Devised by Matthew Austin, Lucy Cassidy, Nina Wyllie and Suzie Zara
Performed by Lucy Cassidy, Nina Wyllie and Suzie Zara

2008
17 October: Bristol Old Vic Studio

2009
22-23 August: Forest Fringe, Edinburgh
6-7 November: Dusseldorf English Speakers Circle
8 November: Die Borse, Wuppertal

“Sinister and intriguing” Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Something Got a Hold of Me was supported by Bristol Old Vic and Residence.