SAME by Aimee Samara and Francesca Di Cesare: A Powerful Exploration of Men's Mental Health

When we think about men’s mental health, one alarming statistic can’t be ignored: globally, suicide rates are higher among men than women, with men accounting for 75% of suicides in many countries. Despite this tragic reality, open conversations about men’s mental health remain scarce. That's precisely why Aimee and Francesca's gripping play, SAME, feels so vital. Bold, unflinching, and deeply emotional, SAME not only entertains but also challenges its audience to rethink what it means to be vulnerable as a man in today’s world.

The Weight Men Carry

“Men should be providers. Providers carry a lot, Lewis.” These words, spoken by Lewis' mother in SAME, echo the societal narrative that men must bear the world on their shoulders without faltering. Lewis, one of the play’s protagonists, is thrust into the role of caretaker, placed under intense pressure to be “the man of the house” after his father dies. His struggles are a vivid portrayal of the expectations placed on men to always be strong, stoic providers.

Meanwhile, James, his best friend, battles his own unseen demons. While on the surface he exudes confidence and humour, the absence of connection with his father eats away at him. When paired with the stress of hiding his vulnerability, these internalised struggles drive both men into emotional isolation.

Aimee and Francesca brings these experiences to life with a raw honesty that resonates deeply with anyone who’s felt the weight of society’s expectations. These characters don’t just tell a story; they reveal the quieter, often unspoken battles many men face every day.

The Stigma Around Seeking Help

One of SAME's most poignant moments occurs when Lewis considers calling a therapy hotline. His hesitation, coupled with James’ dismissive attitude toward therapy as a “load of shit,” illustrates the stigma men face when reaching out for help. Society has long taught men that vulnerability equates to weakness and that seeking support is something "real men" simply don’t do.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Research consistently shows that counseling or therapy has significant benefits for mental health, including reducing symptoms of depression and managing stress. Yet, men are far less likely to seek professional help than women, a gap driven primarily by stigma. Through Lewis' small yet significant decision to dial the hotline, the play delivers a timely message: healing is possible, but first, we must dismantle the harmful stereotypes surrounding men’s emotions.

Grief, Generational Expectations, and Masculinity

At its heart, SAME is a story about grief and the way it manifests differently in each individual. Lewis and James both struggle with absent fathers in contrasting ways. For Lewis, his father's death becomes a constant reminder that he can never live up to the ideal his mother enforces. For James, abandonment by his father leaves a gaping void, one he struggles to reconcile amidst his brother Sam's narrative of their dad as a devoted parent.

The flashbacks in SAME provide a glimpse into the moments that shaped Lewis’ strained relationship with his mother. Her own pain and rigid ideals create a cycle of expectation and disappointment that feels achingly familiar in a world where men are trained to suppress rather than process their feelings. There nuanced handling of these generational dynamics creates space for reflection on the ways societal pressures can ripple across families for years.

Why This Play Matters

“This isn’t some nice gift. It’s his way of getting rid of me.” At its peak, the play examines the notion that silence and miscommunication are often the greatest barriers to healing. Both Lewis and James make sweeping assumptions about themselves, their parents, and each other. Their struggles to connect reflect a broader societal issue, where men are frequently discouraged from opening up about their pain, even to those closest to them.

The beauty of SAME lies in its ability to reflect life’s worst moments with an authenticity that is both brutal and hopeful. It doesn’t shy away from portraying depression, grief, and anger in their darkest forms. But it also reminds us that connection, even when fragile or imperfect, is a lifeline.

For audiences, this play is more than just a story to watch. It is a call to action. It urges us to talk more openly, to check in on the men we care about, and to recognize that vulnerability is not weakness but courage.

The Call-to-Action We All Need

Men die by suicide every minute, every hour, every day. But this is not inevitable. Plays like SAME are urgently needed because they amplify voices often silenced by stigma. They spark conversations that could save lives.

If you’ve experienced the pressures of society’s rigid norms, felt the sting of loneliness, or watched others hide their pain, then SAME is a play you cannot miss. Buy a ticket. Invite your loved ones. Use the experience as a catalyst to start conversations that matter.

Resources and Hope

If SAME teaches us anything, it’s that seeking and offering help makes a difference. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. Whether it’s through therapy, helplines, or simply opening up to someone you trust, there is a way forward.

Take the first step. Watch SAME. And keep the conversation going.

Your courage to share matters. Your story matters. You matter.

Aimee Samara, Playwright

After graduating with a First Class BA Hons degree in Drama, Aimee collaborated with her fellow graduate and founded Penny Productions. They created The Backward Fall (The Courtyard Theatre, London) and was later developed and entered into the Camden Fringe Festival (Hen and Chickens Theatre) where it received a 4 star review. Further work includes an award winning show, The Day I Married Myself which performed at the Camden Fringe Festival (Canal Cafe Theatre). Acting credits include; Kate Keller in All My Sons, The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Nelly in Wuthering Heights. After being away from the theatre scene for a while, Aimee is excited to be back doing what she is most passionate about.

Francesca Di Cesare, Dramaturg & Director

Favorite New York Credits: Scar Tissue (Playwrights Horizons, Dixon Place)Wrong Number (Gallery Players, Hudson Shakespeare Co.) Polikushka, Overnight, Voices! (Gallery Players), The C*nt (Spicy Witch Productions) Naked (Thespian Productions), Manchild Psychiatry (Grex Group). Favorite UK Credits: Scar Tissue (Old Joint Stock) The Crucible, A View From the Bridge, Caesar, Antigone, Romeo and Juliet,Road, Death of a Salesman (Old Rep Theatre) Wuthering Heights, Oliver! (Hayward Theatre). Francesca is an educator and an acting coach. She is delighted to get back into developing important new works.

Synopsis:

People say, “Friends are the family you choose”.But where do you turn when family and friends just aren’t enough? In a society where men’s mental health is still so far from the forefront, what happens to men, particularly men of colour, when their pain becomes voiceless and the walls are closing in?

James and Lewis are best mates. Bonded by the missing pieces of their upbringing, they have become each other’s support. Together they have helped each other deal with everyday struggles and heartbreaking loss. But when a letter is found and a decades-old truth is exposed, that bond is tested. Can the brotherhood they have created, the family they chose, survive?

SAME is a play about the battles others can’t see. We all need help sometimes, but what is the cost of being too afraid to ask? Is it possible, no matter what we look like on the surface or how different our backgrounds, culture, or way of life may seem - the pain we so often feel, the internal struggles that can either bring us together, or tear us apart, just might be, ultimately, the same?

The confirmed venues/dates:

Shakespeare North Playhouse

27th & 28th June 2025

7pm 

Shakespeare North Playhouse 

Same | Shakespeare North Playhouse

Greenside @ George Street 

11th - 16th August 2025

7.40pm 

Greenside @ George Street - Edinburgh Fringe

Same | Edinburgh Festival Fringe