Coping with a chronic illness emphasises examples of overcoming, of invoking extraordinary forces, of obstinacy in the face of involuntary circumstances, and of the stubborn attempt to grasp and enjoy the fleeting moments of happiness that punctuate our lives here and there.

The etymological origin of the word disease lies in the Latin word dolentia, which means to feel pain. And the feeling of pain is very present in chronic rheumatic diseases. Pain is something you live with and try to alleviate. It’s impossible to feel someone else’s pain. Each person’s pain is unique and non-transferable.

This show is driven by the idea of translating pain. In it we represent different situations and circumstances related to rheumatic diseases, with the aim of bringing them closer to the audience. We were guided by the idea of seeking happiness, and an unusual conclusion we came to was that pain and happiness are compatible.

One of the aims of the show is to raise social awareness of these diseases and their impact. We believe that sharing themes such as this one, linked to the Health Sciences, in a theatrical context contributes to clarification, a gain in awareness and in-depth reflection, which improves the social and personal circumstances in which these diseases occur.