A series of events in Carlisle will explore what life is like ‘Living with’ an invisible illness.  

Not knowing from one day to the next whether you’ll be able to get out of bed, chronic pain, brain fog and increased anxiety levels. These are all symptoms that someone living with  Fibromyalgia – a condition that causes, pain all over the body, fatigue and muscle stiffness – has to face. But these physical symptoms are just one part of the struggle of living with an invisible illness; the lack of awareness and stigma can be equally as distressing.  

Grace Ryder, Creative Director of local theatre company Word for Word Theatre knows first hand how hard it can be. It was her own experience of living with Fibromyalgia which inspired this series of events. “I felt very strongly about highlighting these conditions,” Grace explained.  “Because they’re not visible, people don’t believe that they are real or know anything about them. You don’t get the same consideration because it’s not as obvious.” 

She continued: “I had to leave my job. You feel like you’ve had part of your identity taken from you, you feel very angry actually and your anxiety goes through the roof.”  

Word for Word Theatre – a not for profit organisation which creates theatre, art exhibitions and drama workshops based on social issues in the local community – will put on a number multimedia expeditions throughout the year, each looking at life with a different invisible illness. In April the first event, ‘Living with Anxiety’ was held at the Old Fire Station and installations later in the year will focus on Autism and Dementia. ‘Living with Fibromyalgia’ will take place in June, inspired by interviews, poems and artwork by people that have the condition. 

Grace said: “It’s going to be really collaborative, working with local aspiring performers and coming up with something that is quite abstract and dynamic and will hopefully have a big impact.” 

There is an open casting call out for anyone who would like to be involved, regardless of age, gender or experience, whether that’s actually performing or contributing ideas. 

She added: “It’s giving people who suffer a voice, an opportunity to get their stories out and for their conditions to be taken seriously. It can be quite isolating having these conditions, so in a way it’s comforting to hear from other people who are going through similar things.”  

Living with Fibromyalgia will be held at the Old Fire Station from 20 – 23 June. For more information visit www.wordforwordtheatre.com