Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio is set to host Batsh*t – a wildly theatrical and deeply personal one-woman show by Leah Shelton.
Running from 28 May to 1 June 2025, this award-winning production is a rebellious exploration of female madness, blending dark humour, innovative staging, and raw emotion to tell the story of Shelton’s grandmother, Gwen, who was institutionalised in 1960s Australia for daring to seek independence.
Created by Shelton and directed by Olivier Award-winning artist Ursula Martinez, Batsh*t is a requiem for Gwen, who was incarcerated at Perth’s Heathcote Hospital in 1963 and subjected to involuntary drug treatments and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
“The psychiatric reports consistently imply that she was detained because she wanted to leave her husband—and then deemed ‘cured’ when she returned compliantly back to her husband after treatment,” Shelton explains.
Through meticulous research, personal stories, and Prozac-laden humour, Shelton deconstructs how society has historically labelled difficult women as “crazy” to silence them.
“Things haven’t really changed that much for women since the 1960s,” she says. “Many women are still labelled with personality disorders, pathologised, and medicated for being angry about oppression and abuse. I hope Batsh*t will resonate with people who have similar stories to tell and will open up conversations on how we might do things better.”
Since its premiere, Batsh*t has garnered critical acclaim, winning the Scotsman Fringe First Award 2024, the Mental Health Foundation Edinburgh Fringe Award 2024, and multiple Matilda Awards.
Known for her bold, feminist work, Shelton has performed globally, from La Clique to Soho Theatre London, and co-directs Polytoxic, an intersectional theatre company, with Lisa Fa’alafi.
