Enter the mind of Adrian, a mild-mannered English teacher far from home, as he begins to unravel. Set in modern-day Japan, Anxiety follows a man grappling with an invisible adversary: the creeping dread that lurks beneath routine, reason, and the reassuring glow of everyday life. The lines between reality and paranoia blur, and as the pressure builds, so does the sense that something, or someone, is closing in.
Written and performed by Australian playwright Davion T. Brown, in collaboration with the YTG summer ensemble, Anxiety was an exploration of mental illness, isolation, and identity in an increasingly disconnected world. With intensive multimedia design, unsettling silence, and moments of vulnerability, the play immersed audiences in the inner turmoil of its protagonist. Brown’s performance peeled back layers of control and civility, revealing the fragile mental scaffolding we often rely on to appear “normal.”
Premiering in Japan, Anxiety marked Brown’s latest international venture, bringing his singular voice to new audiences. Brown challenged the boundaries of culture and communication, crafting a play that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant. Anxiety was timely story for an age of quiet breakdowns and unspoken fears.