This paper will discuss the researcher’s practice-led study within the field of contemporary cabaret performance. The project is focussed on transforming personal stories of depression into cabaret with the aims of raising community awareness of the issue. In the process, the research aims to explore innovations within the field of cabaret. Interviews conducted with individuals who have suffered from depression are being used as ‘inspiration points’ for the development of the performance. This paper will
provide a short contextual review for the project and introduce the researcher’s creative process.

For the purposes of this research, cabaret has been defined as performances of songs and dialogue in direct-address with the audience. Cabaret performances merge ‘high’ and ‘low’ art forms (often including satirical comedy), and are generally performed in small-scale venues. The accessible, intimate and light-hearted nature of cabaret offers unique opportunities for the discussion of social issues.

Following an auto-ethnographic approach, the researcher’s personal experiences and challenges will be discussed in relation to the following areas: finding a context for the work; articulating and analysing the use of humour within cabaret; investigations of the audience-performer relationship; and the process of creating a performance in response to personal interviews