Maya escapes reality by pretending to be Britney but who is the artist pretending to be Maya? And why does he keep escaping into these drag characters?
In his new drag therapy show, MENTAL PILLNESS, Indie Nile explores the stigma around mental illness by bringing his own version of Britney Spears to life. Indie becomes Maya who becomes Britney in a tragicomedy about identity and the masks we wear in order to blend in and feel normal.
Written, directed & performed by: Indie Nile
Nurse voice over: Margo van de Linde
Dramaturgs: Vincent Wijlhuizen, Bregt van Deursen
Artistic advice: Floor Houwink ten Cate
Set design advice: Roel van de Berckelaer
Technical production: Cerian Mason
Production management: Myrthe Ligtenberg
Indie Nile is an Amsterdam-based award-winning theater maker & popular YouTuber well-known for his thought-provoking yet highly entertaining pieces about love, sex and relationships, which are always rooted in psychology hence why he is called a “drag therapist”. Indie was nominated for the 2025 Podium Prijs for his theater work over the last 3 years. You can read a review of his most recent theater piece, “How 2 Have a Happy Ending” here. His debut theater show, “How 2 Prepare 4 Love” won the top jury prize at Amsterdam Fringe Festival in 2022. Before beginning his journey in theater in 2022, Indie was an award-winning filmmaker and a graduate of the New York Film Academy.
