A review of Gods and Kings, written and directed by Paul Whittaker, Sherman Theatre, 
in partnership with Mind Cymru; and I’ll Sing This Song, digital project produced
 by National Theatre Wales, and designed and developed by Bwtîc,
 in affiliation with The Alzheimer’s Society.

Rehearsal of Gods and Kings, Sherman Theatre © John Campbell

Gods and Kings is a first-hand account of Bipolar Disorder (formerly known as manic depression), written and directed by Paul Whittaker and played by actor, Robert Bowman. The play turns on a moment of diagnosis, when ‘Paul’ receives the unlikely gift of a Welcome Pack, prompting rage, relief and humour alike. He is bluntly told he can either take the lithium pill or risk premature death. In response, he recounts a paragraph in the booklet which informs us how people with this condition are often very creative, only to take delight in pointing out to the psychiatrist that a helpful reference to Ronnie Scott might need amending given the fact ‘he took his own life two weeks ago’.