A French-born singer, writer and performer who now lives on a wooden, ketch sailboat in Ramsgate harbour is bringing her tale of struggling against eating disorders to the stage.
Marianne Dissard teams up with Australian artist, performer and writer Megan Garrett-Jones and composer Nicholas De Carlo, both now Ramsgate residents, to bring Not Me to the Tom Thumb Theatre in Cliftonville this month.
Not Me is a memoir written by Marianne about her battle with bulimia while working as a touring musician. The book is due for publication this winter.
She said: “Beyond performing and touring our new show, my ultimate goal is to outreach into youth centers and schools with a message of resilience and hope. Things might have turned out differently for me had I been exposed as a teenager to a compelling story told in an entertaining and non-threatening way about the near-fatal and debilitating physical and mental consequences of eating disorders.
“I didn’t write the book with that purpose in mind originally. Not much was clear when I started writing except that I had to tell it how it was and get better. And I did get better, finding some peace and a home in Ramsgate, and joining a new creative community of supportive friends. I know now my story will help others.”
The show contains songs and excerpts of the book performed by Marianne with Megan acting as her alter-ego on stage, as well as music videos by Marianne of her songs composed by Sergio Mendoza and Calexico frontman Joey Burns.
Not Me will be performed at the Tom Thumb Theatre, Eastern Esplanade, on Thursday, September 27.
Show opens at 8pm.
Early-bird tickets are £5 from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/448035
Tickets on the day are £7 at the box office.