Graham Cunnington is in pain – but he believes the answer lies in mind over matter.

Pain is a story of imagination, anger, self-will and a search for fundamental knowledge in dealing with a crippling disease. Written and performed by Graham Cunnington, founder member of industrial music collective the Test Dept, NVA brought Graham’s story to the stage in this insightful theatre production which toured throughout the UK and internationally.

From his crib his first word was “Einaar” which roughly translates from Afrikaans as “Pain!” Since his teenage years, he ploughed a singular determined furrow, rejecting conventional medical wisdom, in a personal battle to understand and overcome the causes and effects of Chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis. Thirty four years later this journey forms the basis of Cunnington’s solo show telling his story of the pain integral to Stills Disease, the condition he was diagnosed as having as a two-year-old and its progression.