The How Presents:
UnTethered is an autobiographical comedy that follows a queer, demisexual woman with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as she attempts to transcend her fears so that she may finally experience what it’s like to feel safe and loved. When her intrusive thoughts manifest as monsters made from plastic bags, she begins to question the absurd lengths the mind will go through to create an illusion of safety. UnTethered explores the challenges of intimacy, and seeks to communicate a truthful portrayal of the often clichéd experience of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Pushing at the boundaries of fixed identity, UnTethered asks if we should tether to the things that make us feel safe, or if the power lies in the letting go.
“Funny, heartfelt and unafraid of emotional whiplash”
“A daring display of vulnerability”
“An incredibly moving and thought-provoking experience... fascinating and heartfelt”
Press for UnTethered
“With plays like this, stigmas can be reduced, and more opinions can be changed about OCD. This play challenges the conventional media stigmatisation of OCD in today’s media and shows the guttural truth. This is a vulnerable play from the author/actor and a brave play to perform, as it is so personal. This is Daring Work”
“It’s a piece that commands attention while never feeling uncomfortable or ridiculous. ”
“A Fearless, boundary-pushing piece of theatre that dares to be both uncomfortable and uplifting”
Meet the Team
UnTethered is written and performed by Tana Sirois. This project is directed by Polina Ionina.
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Founder of the How Theater and Director of UnTetherdPolina is a Russian-American director/actor born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Classically trained at Pace University BFA Acting program in NYC, Polina has also studied abroad in Kyrgyzstan and at the Grotowski Institut in Poland. In NY she’s worked with Interactive PlayLab led by improv pioneer and master clown Jeff Wirth, and with the experimental theater group Dzieci. Polina is a founder of The How, and has performed with and directed the ensemble at celebrated venues such as HERE Arts Center, IRT, The Tank NYC, Dixon Place, and Tuhafier (Istanbul). Work with The How includes: The Vyuga Project, Vandals, Hunger, What We Do, I Am the Wind, 5 Hour Piece, My Favorite Person, and Rat King which recently performed at Culture Lab in LIC. Polina has also worked with up and coming film-makers in NYC such as Alex Blackstorm, Sonoko Ogata, and Steve Perterson as well as industry giants such as Bob Balaban, and Lisa Robinson.
ig: @mspyaari
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Actor, theatre-maker, and creative producer.Tana holds a BA in Acting from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and an MSc in Creative Arts & Mental Health from Queen Mary University of London. She is co-founder of the non-profit arts & culture center, Culture Lab LIC in NYC, and Artistic Director of Dirt [contained] Theatre Company, where she has been producing socially conscious theatre with an absurd twist since 2010. Tana is a member of the international movement theatre collective, The How, and of the feminist musical comedy troupe, Broad Comedy, where she has helped raise over $2,500,000 for Planned Parenthood and The ACLU. Her original play "Crushing Baby Animals" played at The IRT theatre in NYC, and her two-person movement theatre piece, "My Favorite Person" ran in NYC at Culture Lab LIC and HERE Arts, and at Thuafier in Istanbul. She has been acting since 1994, producing theatre since 2007, has directed Off-Broadway, and performed in over 100 theatrical productions across the USA, UK, and Turkey. She utilizes improvisation to devise movement-based work that strives for eloquence in absurdity and authenticity in chaos. The research she has undertaken at the intersection of art and mental health has inspired her to create work centered around issues of equality and identity, and the ever-changing nature of the self. She believes in the efficacy of art for social justice, and holds a deep respect for the profound healing power of the theatre.
UnTethered at The Tank
UnTethered had an incredible time in NYC! We feel very lucky to have had this show supported by The New York Foundation for the Arts and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. We met so many people who deeply related to the work, shared so many laughs, and cries. What a treat to share work in our home city. We love creating space for community.
“Sirois is a warrior of emotions”
UnTethered in Istanbul
We had an absolutely incomparable time presenting work at the Istanbul Fringe Festival in Turkey. The amazing Fringe team packed the house at DasDas and hosted a meaningful talk back after the show with the audience about Art and Mental Health. This production was graciously supported by the American Embassy of Istanbul, Turkey.
