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A scene from the theatrical production Oxímoro, entre Solstícios e Equinócios

Credit: The Marionet Theatre Company

“People often use the term ‘bipolar’ casually, saying things like ‘my mood changes all day, I must be bipolar,’ or ‘everything is bipolar.’ But bipolar disorder is a serious condition with a biological basis.”

This remark features in a short promotional video on YouTube about bipolar disorder, tying in with the play Oxímoro, entre Solstícios e Equinócios (Oxymoron, Between Solstices and Equinoxes), produced by Marionet, a Portuguese theatre company known for combining science and the arts in their performances.

This production stemmed from a close partnership between the theatre artists, medical professionals, scientific researchers, and individuals living with bipolar disorder. The goal was to educate the public and promote understanding about the condition, in hopes of decreasing the associated stigma.

As part of the project, researchers studied the audience’s reaction to the play, focusing on the emotional impact of the performance. The findings were shared in a practice insight paper published in a special issue of the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM), dedicated to the role of emotions in science outreach. The data highlighted how emotional responses—such as empathy and self-reflection—enhanced comprehension of the topic and positively influenced attitudes toward mental health.

Marionet Theatre Company has long been exploring the intersection of science and performance. As Mário Montenegro, a representative from Marionet and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Coimbra, explains, “We’ve been incorporating scientific themes into our work for 25 years. Only recently have we started tackling health-related topics.”

The team collaborates with scientific institutions like the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology at the University of Coimbra, which studies various mental health issues. For this particular project, they worked with both researchers focusing specifically on bipolar disorder and mental health professionals from the Coimbra Hospital and University Centre.

Scientific input was incorporated from the outset, starting with the script development phase. The team also spoke directly with individuals affected by bipolar disorder. “We had to adapt our creative approach because we were dealing with deeply personal, sensitive experiences,” says Montenegro. “So we conducted interviews with patients, healthcare providers, and family members. Their voices became the foundation for our creative work.”

Using the insights from these conversations, the writers crafted a script featuring multiple scenarios and characters, rather than a single narrative. The play was performed over five days—between March 20 and 24, 2024—at the BlackBox Theatre in Convento São Francisco, Coimbra, Portugal, with a total of six shows.

After each performance, spectators were invited to share their impressions via a questionnaire. From an audience of around 300 people, 54 participants responded. “The play was emotionally intense,” notes Montenegro, “and the audience's emotional involvement was powerful.” The responses affirmed that emotions played a significant role in helping attendees absorb and retain knowledge about bipolar disorder. Emotional engagement fostered empathy, encouraged identification with those affected by the illness, and contributed to a more compassionate understanding of the condition.

Montenegro emphasizes that emotions, when guided thoughtfully through the language and tone of a performance, amplify rather than distort the message. “We didn’t want to dictate how the illness or situations should be interpreted,” he explains. “We deliberately left the meanings open, allowing each viewer to make their own interpretations and connect in their own way. Everyone experiences things differently, and we wanted to respect that diversity.”

The article “Theatre and bipolar disorder: dealing with emotions,” authored by Mário Montenegro, Silvia Carballo, and Francisca Moreira, is featured in the JCOM special edition focused on emotions and science communication.

“Theatre has proven to be an effective way to engage the public with subjects related to health and science,” says Luisa Massarani, a researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Public Communication of Science and Technology and one of the guest editors for the journal’s special issue. “We've seen impressive initiatives around the world, and this one from Portugal is a beautiful example.”

She adds, “Although emotions play a vital role in how people receive and make sense of science, they remain under-explored in science communication. This growing awareness inspired Neta Shaby, Daniel Silva Luna, and me to propose this special issue, encouraging contributions from researchers and practitioners globally. Our hope is to spark more interest and further study into the many ways emotions influence science communication.”

Journal

Journal of Science Communication

DOI

10.22323/157520250929164851

Method of Research

Observational study

Article Title

Theatre and bipolar disorder: dealing with emotions

Article Publication Date

10-Nov-2025