What the circus can teach us about mental health
In this episode of Unravelling, we’re talking about circus arts and mental health with two people behind A Little Unwell, a circus variety show coming to Brattleboro, VT, this October through a partnership between the Brattleboro Retreat and the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA). First, Mary talks with Caytha Jentis, director of the show, about how she turned a personal story about anxiety into a circus performance. Then, she talks with Hayley Brown, an aerialist and performer whose work explores anxiety, rumination and what it means to get out of your head and into your body.
The conversations explore what happens when personal experiences become movement, and why circus can be such a powerful way to tell stories that can sometimes be difficult to put into words. Caytha also talks about finding your flow, that moment when you stop overthinking and simply become immersed in what you’re doing. For both Caytha and Hayley, circus offers a way to connect with the body, express something personal and find a different way of understanding mental health.
Tickets to A Little Unwell (October 10-11, 2026): A Little Unwell - New England Center for Circus Arts
