New play goes to show that happiness comes in many forms ...

Jun 25 2009 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

THERE probably couldn’t be a better time to assess just what it is that makes us happy. Right now, just a sunny day can be enough to take the edge off the all-pervading economic gloom.

And, as people are reminding themselves to seek pleasure in the small things in life, it seems at least Northern Stage in Newcastle has Happiness sussed.

That’s the title of its cheery new production, which is opening there tomorrow.

It follows a spell of workshops in which about 100 people from the local community – from schoolchildren to pensioners and students to asylum seekers – were asked to define happiness and give examples of it.

Director Mark Calvert, who himself soaked up happiness through uplifting films and books, explained: “The Northern Stage summer season seemed slightly dark so we decided to make a piece of theatre that was centred around happiness rather than tragedy.

“We did a number of workshops where we would play silly games and ask people what happiness means to them.

“Happiness is completely different for everyone but it often comes up as friends, family and love.

“Also little things in your day can give you boosts of happiness.”

As if to prove the point, 12 actors who’ll be in the Northern Stage show have been taking to the streets to spread a little joy and no doubt confirming that the apparent link between happiness and kindness can be infectious.

By indulging in acts of ‘guerilla kindness’ for strangers in Newcastle, they’ve been finding out how much happiness they can give for £1. Their acts included paying for someone’s parking; buying a lottery ticket and choosing a pound’s worth of tulips.

The theatre also created a happiness blog and installed a ‘Happiness Pig’ piggy bank in the foyer, for people to deposit postcards with their own happy stories written on the back.

All this inspired Happiness, written by Susan Mulholland.

Combining true stories, some of them told by actual participants from the happiness workshops, and the outcome of research, such as ideas like laughter groups in India, it tells of the quest of a group of friends to find, and give, the perfect gift of happiness to their mate Tim for his birthday.

In the wake of an insurance pay-out after having his flat set on fire the previous year, Tim busily bought himself new clothes, DVDs and computer games. But did it make him happy? What do you think?

So, this year, the only present he wants is “a whole load of happy” and his friends want to provide it for him.

With a mix of singing, dancing, comedy, nostalgia and hope, the show is guaranteed to lift the spirits.

And, of the students who will be acting in the production, it’s quite refreshing to hear that many of their answers to the happiness question did not list money or material goods.

One 20-year-old said having the future in front of her made her happy; a young man picked dancing “like there is no-one watching”, while another answered “dogs looking out of car windows” which, if you think about it, is enough to make anybody smile.

Catch the Happiness bug at Northern Stage tomorrow and Saturday at 8pm. Visit www.northernstage.co.uk or call (0191) 230-5151.