A Psychological Journey into the Depths of Depression and Loss


"Untitled - بلا عنوان"
is a powerful theater piece directed by Marwa Manai, adapted from the diary of Sara Jerbi, and performed by Nadia Belhadj and Lobna Malika. This play is among the works featured at the second edition of the Tunisian National Theater Festival, *Seasons of Creativity,* organized by the Tunisian National Theater in collaboration with the Abdelwaheb Ben Ayed Foundation and Microcred from November 7 to 14, 2024.

The play was presented Thursday evening at the Théâtre Palace in Halfaouine, attended by artists and cultural enthusiasts. The story follows "Sara," a woman who suffered from severe depression, resulting in multiple hospitalizations at "Saint-Anne" and "Henry-E" psychiatric hospitals in Paris during 2015-2016. Through this work, the director delves into the psychological factors behind Sara’s condition, capturing an intricate portrayal of her struggle. The title, *“Untitled,”* suggests a sense of the unknown and chaos, reflecting the protagonist’s feelings of disorientation and emptiness.

The set design, portraying a hospital room, aligns with the play's theme of tension and disturbance. It reflects the characters’ psychological states over the course of the hour-long performance. The play opens with a shadow puppet technique, showing "Sara" expressing her turmoil through incoherent sketches that ultimately reveal a drawing of a bearded man, hinting at one of the causes of her deep-seated depression.

Manai masterfully uses the psychiatric hospital setting to transition from an outward depiction of the setting to an intimate exploration of Sara's inner psyche, gradually unveiling her psychological anguish. Lighting plays a critical role in illustrating her mental state: as her condition deteriorates, the lighting darkens, intensifying the portrayal of Sara's internal conflict with her world.

Sara’s character is marked by mental confusion and emotional instability, dominated by fear and doubt. These emotions permeate the audience’s experience, drawing them into Sara’s psyche until the final moments, where the underlying cause of her severe depression is revealed: Sara’s struggle with bipolar disorder, a mental condition characterized by intense mood swings, with depressive episodes being among the most prominent.