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Takin' Over the Asylum
Adapted for the stage by the author, Takin' Over the Asylum is a hilarious, updated and profoundly moving adaptation of Donna Franceschild's Bafta-winning BBC TV-series. Set in a Scottish mental institution, the play reveals hope and joy in the fragile beauty of the human heart.
When Ready Eddie McKenna, Soul Survivor and double glazing salesman, arrives to reinvigorate St Jude's defunct hospital radio station he turns more than the ramshackle station upside down. The whisky drinking would-be DJ meets the 19-year-old bipolar Campbell, schizophrenic electronic genius Fergus, OCD Rosalie and the elusive self-harming Francine. Fighting against illness and perception Eddie and the patients of St Jude's strive for their dreams to be accepted.
When Ready Eddie McKenna, Soul Survivor and double glazing salesman, arrives to reinvigorate St Jude's defunct hospital radio station he turns more than the ramshackle station upside down. The whisky drinking would-be DJ meets the 19-year-old bipolar Campbell, schizophrenic electronic genius Fergus, OCD Rosalie and the elusive self-harming Francine. Fighting against illness and perception Eddie and the patients of St Jude's strive for their dreams to be accepted.
96 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2013
28 people want to read
About the author
Donna Franceschild
6 booksDonna Franceschild is a British-based television writer and dramatist, originally from the US. She has written many plays and television shows, but her best known work is probably the BBC series Takin' Over the Asylum.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 1, 2024
“We have a heritage! We have a history! Some of the world's greatest geniuses have been complete nut jobs! Vincent Van Gogh! Handel! Schumann! Virginia Woolf! Sylvia Plath! Spike Milligan! I'm a loony too. And I'm proud, my friends! So say it loud! We are loonies and we are proud!”
Takin’ Over the Asylum the 90s BBC show has been my comfort show for the last several months since discovering it. There is something about that little six episode Scottish drama that warms your heart, especially if you too, are a loony. I had found out that the writer of the show had adapted it into a stage play and I immediately had to get ahold of it.
Takin’ Over the Asylum the play is also utterly fantastic. The characters are all fully realized despite a lot of scenes being omitted from the tv show. If anything, you get a lot more moments with the patients as the play centers around them more than Eddie and his life outside St. Jude’s. The cast of characters are witty and alongside their original lines, continue to have plenty of memorable quips. Campbell, Fergus, Francine, and Rosalie are still standouts and I adored how much they all interact with one another in the play version.
What this story does so well is humanize mental illness realistically. Yes, the characters are all dynamic and comical at times - but the story still remains grounded in the reality of mental illness and the ways mental illness is stigmatized in society. Alongside every fun moment is a heart wrenching one, but it’s the warmth and consideration used in telling this story that makes it comforting. It is all about how those on the fringes of society support one another and find family in one another. There’s also an intrinsic positivity to the story in the way it portrays an affirming side to mental illness, one without shame or embarrassment but with acceptance and often joy.
The play is also modernized to include more modern technology which I was initially worried about, but the overall tone and story remain the same despite cell phones and laptops being present. Also, I was drawn to the music choices. If you know the show, you know the songs hold a very deep meaning in each scene, one that resonates with the viewer. While some of the same songs are used in different ways in the play, the play still heavily utilizes classics from the 60s - all of which are soul songs that are new to the story. I had to update my St. Jude’s playlist to include these because, once again, they are showcased phenomenally in their scenes.
If you’ve seen the show, the play still maintains many of the iconic moments, but also brings an entirely new version of the story to the stage adaptation. It is absolutely worth the read. I hope one day to get to see the stage version of my comfort show, but for now:
I am a loony, and I am proud!
Takin’ Over the Asylum the 90s BBC show has been my comfort show for the last several months since discovering it. There is something about that little six episode Scottish drama that warms your heart, especially if you too, are a loony. I had found out that the writer of the show had adapted it into a stage play and I immediately had to get ahold of it.
Takin’ Over the Asylum the play is also utterly fantastic. The characters are all fully realized despite a lot of scenes being omitted from the tv show. If anything, you get a lot more moments with the patients as the play centers around them more than Eddie and his life outside St. Jude’s. The cast of characters are witty and alongside their original lines, continue to have plenty of memorable quips. Campbell, Fergus, Francine, and Rosalie are still standouts and I adored how much they all interact with one another in the play version.
What this story does so well is humanize mental illness realistically. Yes, the characters are all dynamic and comical at times - but the story still remains grounded in the reality of mental illness and the ways mental illness is stigmatized in society. Alongside every fun moment is a heart wrenching one, but it’s the warmth and consideration used in telling this story that makes it comforting. It is all about how those on the fringes of society support one another and find family in one another. There’s also an intrinsic positivity to the story in the way it portrays an affirming side to mental illness, one without shame or embarrassment but with acceptance and often joy.
The play is also modernized to include more modern technology which I was initially worried about, but the overall tone and story remain the same despite cell phones and laptops being present. Also, I was drawn to the music choices. If you know the show, you know the songs hold a very deep meaning in each scene, one that resonates with the viewer. While some of the same songs are used in different ways in the play, the play still heavily utilizes classics from the 60s - all of which are soul songs that are new to the story. I had to update my St. Jude’s playlist to include these because, once again, they are showcased phenomenally in their scenes.
If you’ve seen the show, the play still maintains many of the iconic moments, but also brings an entirely new version of the story to the stage adaptation. It is absolutely worth the read. I hope one day to get to see the stage version of my comfort show, but for now:
I am a loony, and I am proud!
April 25, 2025
Needed a quick read before starting on a joint reading of Wuthering Heights. First time reading a play text, and it lacked for the same reason I don't read screenplays before seeing a film. They relate to the final product as a shabby first draft does to a finished script: all the ideas are there, but they rarely do anything for me emotionally. Doesn't really help that this is primarily built for entertainment (it packs a great deal of wit): there's not much to really think about until the final ~10 pages. Would probably like this on stage where it belongs.
December 1, 2025
Love it to bits aber finde leider dass diese Dramatisierung unter den Aktualisierungen leidet, hätte mir doch lieber das 90s setting gewünscht (macht inhaltlich doch mehr Sinn, nur ein paar Sachen zu ändern ist dann halt nicht ausreichend) und finde leider dass die emotionalsten Momente doch eher flach waren (Fergus?? Rosalie?? eigentlich jegliche persönliche Storylines ??). Vielleicht ist das bei einer tatsächlichen Inszenierung auch besser, aber kam beim Lesen doch eher zu kurz. Hab auch Isabels Rolle total vermisst; finde sie ist eigentlich ein fundamentaler Teil und hab sie sonst so gemocht. Trotzdem ist mal eine positive Darstellung von mental health Problemen zum einen erfrischend, zum anderen auch gut zum entstigmatisieren.
January 30, 2025
WE ARE LOONEYS AND WE ARE PROUD!
I loved the series so I just had to read the book (theatre adaptation) as well.
This is such a powerful story, with lovely characters and most importantly it is honest.
The story is about mental health, found family, being who you are, music and it’s an absolute blast to read.
It is as unique as it is funny and in a sense it gives hope.
I loved it and I will definitely reread this book (probably very soon)
I loved the series so I just had to read the book (theatre adaptation) as well.
This is such a powerful story, with lovely characters and most importantly it is honest.
The story is about mental health, found family, being who you are, music and it’s an absolute blast to read.
It is as unique as it is funny and in a sense it gives hope.
I loved it and I will definitely reread this book (probably very soon)
October 4, 2020
Finally read the whole play for my Stage Management class. Originally, I’ve only seen the 90’s show. It’s different in comparison to the show. It had to be trimmed down a bit but it still works. I would have loved to see it rather than read it. But the text leaves room for the performance and production design to make the story more full.
November 6, 2019
Really cleverly written, was the first play I read! Very clever take on mental health, giving the patients more humanity, as someone with Autism and Anxiety, this play was heavily appreciated.
May 29, 2025
OMG I CRIED SO HARD!
March 22, 2015
hilarious!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews