The first of our home-grown shows in 2022, we’re thrilled to present Tassie’s creative triple-threat Justin Heazlewood (AKA The Bedroom Philosopher) who writes, composes and performs his autobiographical work Get Up Mum. Justin’s work is a fascinating, uplifting and entertaining contribution to our growing conversation about mental health.

It’s Burnie, Tasmania, 1992. Justin is an only child living with his mother who suffers from schizophrenia. When she is well, Mum is perfect. She knows he likes his carrots raw and his toast cooled, and she knows how to soothe his growing pains. But when she is sick, she cries uncontrollably and never gets out of bed. Funny and sad in equal measure, Get Up Mum is a nostalgic rollercoaster ride of cassette tapes, caravans and coming of age. An only child and his Mum are trying to love each other but mental illness keeps getting in the way. Get Up Mum is a show-and-tell crossed with a live radio play as Justin talks with the tape recordings he fastidiously collected during his childhood - the soundtrack to a never-ending story.

“Equal parts heart-warming and heart-wrenching, Get Up Mum is both a funny time capsule of one year in a teenage boy’s life mixed with a very adult and very tragic tale of a young boy forced to deal with his Mum’s severe mental illness.” ~ MYF WARHURST

Writer and Performer: Justin Heazlewood

Director: Chris Drummond