Comedian and certified insane person JD Derbyshire turns the audience into a mental health review board in this memoir-play, breaking the stigma around mental health. It is irreverent fun, hilarious and heart-aching journey through the mental health system.
Certified has garnered two Jessie Richardson Awards for Outstanding Script and Critics’ Choice Innovation Award in the 2019 production at Touchstone Theatre. Since its premiere at the Vancouver Fringe Festival in 2016, this show has seen numerous productions across the country including at the Handsome Alice Theatre (Calgary) in 2018, One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo (Calgary) in 2020, and the Progress Festival (Toronto) in 2020.
“Certified is about Derbyshire’s journey with mental illness and mental health, but it’s not one of those stories that collapse into the horrors of madness. Derbyshire allows herself to be vulnerable, but she’s also levitatingly funny. And she changed the way I see the world.” — Colin Thomas
“Fully passes evaluation—a testament to a dynamic performance and delicate storytelling.” — The Georgia Straight
Run time: 70 minutes, no intermission
Audience advisories: Strong language, sexual content and nudity, audience participation (minimal)
Recommended age: 14+