Burnout Paradise

Overview

Capitalism sucks. Most of us are overworked and underpaid. And burnout is coming for us all. This is what four performers seek to explore in Burnout Paradise, running as part of RISING 2024 from Thursday, June 13–Saturday, June 15.

During the one-hour show, each of the artists is given a series of tasks to complete — some pleasurable, some painfully difficult, some requested by the directors of RISING themselves — all while running on treadmills.

They take you from the joys of success through to the physical and emotional effects of burnout, all the while having a proper workout. For many, this is comedy. For those who find the metaphor too real, it might just incite more anxiety.

But no matter where you sit on the spectrum, we could all benefit from watching a long-form mockery of our attempts to establish boundaries in life and work — for better or for worse.

Damien Raggat