Health is a Privilege

A young girl wants to be an actress. She’s playful and curious – until one day she goes home from school and…

Years later, her chest and her stomach burn. Her jaw bleeds. She looks for answers, but the doctors say she’s fine. She unravels as she tries to deal with pain, trauma and the people who expect her to carry on as if nothing is wrong.

HEALTH IS A PRIVILEGE is an avant-garde one-woman play about invisible pain. A dark comedy humming with quiet rage, Health is a Privilege will make you laugh out loud at inappropriate moments and offer solace to anyone who has ever sought help and been told there’s nothing wrong with them.

With an original score and live music from guitarist Jack Martyn-Hillier.

Performers: Simona Gibejova, Jack Martin-Hillier
Website: https://www.instagram.com/healthisaprivilege/

Other Credits

Creator: Simona Gibejova
Naomi Nyack: Costume design
Sophie Cullen: Set design
Lucy-Ann Bell: Project & Administrative Coordinator
Penelope Richmond: Copyright
Lucas Ross: Photography, Visual media

Simona is a Slovak-born London-based actor, writer, director and multidisciplinary artist working across theatre, film, music and visual art.

Her practice is rooted in personal experience and explores themes including invisible illness, trauma, addiction, mental health, social injustice and the body. She is interested in creating work that makes invisible experiences visible and gives audiences access to perspectives that are often overlooked or misunderstood.

Simona moved to London in 2019 to pursue a career in the performing arts. She has worked across theatre and film, including devising and performing internationally, and has developed original work as both a performer and creator.

Health is a Privilege is her latest solo project, combining autobiographical performance, physical storytelling and live music.