Wigan actor wins big in local awards despite mental health diagnosis

A Wigan actor has not let mental health issues stop him scoring a major success at The Greater Manchester Fringe.

David Degiorgio, 44, has always had a great love for acting and producing his own films which grew at Wigan and Leigh College through his pursuit of performing arts and later on with his acceptance into Manchester School of Theatre.

David said: “I was diagnosed with bipolar and autism later on in life, so it’s always been a bit of a back and forth for me in the acting industry.

“But whenever I’m feeling at my best, all I want to do is get involved in acting.”

David has also been diagnosed with psychomotor agitation which is similar to the characteristics of Tourette’s syndrome.

Despite this, he has created his own production company called Stir Crazy Productions and first won an award at The Greater Manchester Fringe in 2017 for playing the character Dave in a theatre production called Watching Goldfish Suffocate performed at The Kings Arms Salford, for which he picked up the best actor prize.

The Greater Manchester Fringe Festival is an annual, open-access arts celebration, featuring independent theatre comedy, spoken word, and music, transforming local pubs, alternative performance spaces, and small studios into a vibrant cultural melting pot.

This time David won the best actor honour for his role as Les in Steven Berkoff’s play East, which was also performed at The Kings Arms Salford, beating more than 400 other actors.

On winning the award, David said: “I wasn’t going to go to the award ceremony because I didn’t think I was at my best in the show.

“When they said my name I was just in shock more than anything.”

David has previously struggled with acting while dealing with his mental health issues.

He said: “I had to quit three years ago during a rehearsal for a show because I got put back in hospital. It can get to a point where I have no say in it, but this time I managed to get through.”

David says he is incredibly grateful to everyone at The Greater Manchester Fringe and is planning more projects.

He said: “I’ve got two feature films that I’ve written and my friend wants me to come and work with him on a theatre play for next year.”