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Classical catharsis and reclaiming joy: Lewis Rawlinson’s Nervous Breakdown in G Minor
A powerful solo show at the Winnipeg Fringe
Now in its second week, the Winnipeg Fringe Festival has been buzzing with theatrical energy since July 16, showcasing standout performances from local and international artists. Among the most affecting offerings is Nervous Breakdown in G Minor, a powerful solo play written and performed by cellist, actor, and writer Lewis Rawlinson.
Inspired by Rawlinson’s real-life journey through classical music training, Mormon upbringing, and queer identity, the show runs at Théâtre Cercle Molière and offers a deeply personal reflection on art, pressure, and resilience.
A musical jurney rooted in joy—and intensity
Rawlinson began playing the cello at age nine in public school in Montana. His inspiration? “I was inspired to pick the cello when I saw Yo-Yo Ma playing at the Academy Awards, the music for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” he said. “I was just so taken by his musicality and the beauty of the instrument.”
That initial spark carried him through intense training in South Florida and later to the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. His classical education, while formative, also brought significant challenges.
“The training for classical music can be quite intense and all-consuming,” Rawlinson said. “I didn’t sing or dance from the age of about probably 10 all the way to 18—just classical cello only.”
From Conservatory to the stage
After stepping away from his cello studies, Rawlinson turned to musical theatre in 2012 to reconnect with his creativity. “Theatre was a natural segue,” he explained. “To reconnect with that youthful joy and express myself in ways where I felt that I could be more fully myself in my identity.”
He eventually returned to classical music on his own terms—this time combining his talents into one cohesive project.
Nervous Breakdown in G Minor began to take shape while Rawlinson revisited Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata. “The Sonata structure, the movements of the Sonata, the moods, the themes directly correlate in arc to my own story,” he said. “So I alternate the movements of the Sonata with the autobiographical story.”
Coming out, breaking down—and coming home
The show’s narrative follows multiple “coming outs”—as queer, as an artist, as someone grappling with mental health. It delves into his fraught relationship with religious upbringing, the often rigid and perfectionist nature of classical conservatories, and the toll those environments can take.
“I explore sort of multiple coming outS in my life,” said Rawlinson. “I get into the confrontation with religion, the confrontation with conservatories… I couldn’t be myself in those boxes, those sort of small boxes that you’re asked to conform to.”
After hitting a personal and professional breaking point, he took a break from music altogether. “I was starting to resent the thing that I loved the most,” he said. “So getting back home, getting back to my support system and taking time to heal… I was a better student than ever.”
Music as mirror—and therapy
The music of Rachmaninoff forms the structural and emotional backbone of the piece. For the Fringe version, Rawlinson plays about 20 minutes of the sonata, carefully excerpted and performed live on stage alongside storytelling.
He also includes the Élégie by Fauré—one of the first pieces where he moved beyond technique into true expression. “I felt myself change from playing notes to storytelling through the cello,” he said.
While he performs with pre-recorded piano tracks due to logistical limitations, his Chicago-based pianist Mo Xu was instrumental in developing the musical integration. “She helped build the idea of how the music weaves through the show,” he explained.
Parallels with composers and a personal reclamation
The show also draws parallels between Rawlinson’s experiences and those of Rachmaninoff himself.
“I do talk about Rachmaninoff’s life,” said Rawlinson. “This particular Sonata… comes from a place in his life where Rachmaninoff describes it as a rebirth after a long depressive episode. I realized, wait a minute, I relate with these themes with these melodies.”
It was a striking revelation: “I was quite stunned to not have felt that [in Conservatory], and had many of the same shared experiences that I felt isolated by.”
Humour, fashion, and emotional connection
Despite its heavy themes, Nervous Breakdown in G Minor is laced with levity. “I do think it’s important for the audience to feel safe with me sharing this story,” Rawlinson said. “Even amidst difficult mental health experiences, there’s a bit of irony and humour that in this moment I can comment on.”
Costumes play a symbolic role, too. A rack of hanging jackets and shirts helps show Rawlinson’s journey of self-expression. “Fashion expression through clothing is really deeper than the superficial it might seem,” he said. “It directly mirrors my comfort as a queer person.”
An invitation to conversation and compassion
Ultimately, Rawlinson hopes Nervous Breakdown in G Minor entertains—but also opens minds and hearts.
“I hope… to affirm anyone who’s had shared experiences… and if they haven’t, perhaps teach,” he said. “Perhaps create more compassionate conversations around the classical arts and perfectionism, exclusion, elitism.”
He wants to take the show into schools and community centres, and be part of “changing the narrative” around classical music education.
And how does he know he’s succeeded?
“When I’m playing that final movement of Rachmaninoff… I feel it in myself and the audience. They’re ready to kind of have the triumph come full circle,” said Rawlinson. “When I talk after the show with folks in the lobby and they say it’s like you took pages out of my diary… that is the success.”
Whether you're a classical music lover, a theatre enthusiast, or simply someone who’s ever felt the weight of expectation, Nervous Breakdown in G Minor is a must-see. With raw honesty, humour, and a cello that sings of both sorrow and triumph, Lewis Rawlinson offers more than just a performance—he delivers a cathartic, compassionate, and unforgettable experience. This is Fringe theatre at its most personal and powerful—don’t miss the chance to witness a story that might just echo your own.
Nervous Breakdown in G Minor
📍 Théâtre Cercle Molière, 340 Provencher Blvd.
🎟️ For tickets and showtimes, visit winnipegfringe.com.
