IF A WOMAN is depressed, she shouldn't read.

Should she?

And if a lady is feeling rather emotional, she certainly shouldn't be allowed work, write or stretch her mind in any way imaginable.

That was the thinking of late 19th century North America, revealed in the writing of author Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who suffered from depression.

Now, Charlotte's story of how she battled the illness - and had to cope with society's warped perception of depression - is played out this week at Oran Mor in The Yellow Wallpaper.

The adaptation of Gilman's story by Sandy Nelson features Hannah Donaldson as Charlotte.

"At this time, society just didn't talk about mental health issues," says Hannah.

"This play is all about her dealings with all of that, or rather how she was unable to deal with it, because of her lack of support."

Gilman was a feminist who advocated revised roles for women. She argued that women should be financially independent and be able to work outside the home.

This was radical thought for the period. (And indeed the debate is still being argued today.) But Charlotte's husband was a reactionary.

"We discover that Charlotte's husband is a doctor," Hannah adds, "and while you may have thought he'd be in a better position than most to understand depression, that wasn't the case.

"This was an era of ignorance. In fact sufferers were often sent to asylums. And because of her husband's ignorance, his refusal to think, Charlotte's condition, understandably, gets worse."

It's only in recent times, the stigma has begun to fade from the label of depression.

"That's true," says Hannah. "I've got a lot of good friends who've been suffering from depression for years and it's only now they're talking about it.

"The stigma still exists however. But hopefully this play will provoke thought."

Now, audiences may feel a play (which stars Sandy Nelson as Charlotte's husband) which takes an audience through the journey of depression may be rather heavy to endure. But there's an added dimension to factor in.

"There's a dancer in the show," says Hannah of Katie Armstrong. "Director Sacha Kyle had the idea that as Charlotte becomes obsessed by wallpaper and shapes it would be a great idea to bring in a dancer, to suggest these abstract thoughts which are going on in her head."

Hannah, who grew up in Fyfe, adds; "The Oran Mor audience like to see something different on stage. That's the great thing about the format."

Hannah Donaldson, an upbeat, charismatic lady in real life, certainly has the experience and talent create in-drawn Charlotte's character on stage. The former Scottish Youth Theatre actor went on to attend Glasgow's RSAMD and as part of her RSAMD course, Hannah studied in Los Angeles for four months on an exchange programme.

She took positives from the American experience.

"The American work attitude is great and people are so positive. Students would study until ten at night and then work on their own projects. It helps however when the sun is shining all the time."

On leaving drama school Hannah went on to work in theatre in the likes of Sunset Song and achieved great crit. She's landed TV roles in the likes of Rab C. Nesbitt.

"The Comedy Unit seem to call on me when there's an accent required, looking for someone with an Eastern European accent, or American," she says smiling .

More recently, she's been touring North America with Catherine Wheels' production of Lifeboat.

"Three months and twenty eight states," she says of the itinerary.

"It was like a holiday, and a great chance not to worry about work, so that was great."

Yet, at times the actress has had to work outside of acting. "When I was living in London I spent a lot of time working in Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant.

"But that's part of it. You have to take the rough with the smooth."

Hannah moved to London with her partner, actor Ryan Fletcher.

"We met in a play The Last Witch, in Edinburgh in 2009 where I was The Witch and he played The Devil," she recalls, smiling. "And no I didn't weave a spell to land him. Maybe a curse.

"But seriously, I'd like to work with him again. We're looking for a project at the moment."

The pair are now back living together in Scotland. Their five years together suggests the relationship must be serious?

"We've got a dog," she says, grinning, her smile reflecting the symbolism this commitment suggests.

Hannah wasn't ready to embrace all traits of American thespian behaviour, to copy the actresses, for example, who would turn up at auditions for the role of Bikini Babe wearing a tiny swimsuit.

"It's not me," she says. "It's not what I'm about. I got into the business because I love telling stories. If a script moves me, I want to share that with other people.

"It probably goes back to being read to by my parents as a kid. I want to do that now."

She adds, grinning; "And I certainly didn't turn up at Oran Mor to audition for the role of Charlotte wearing 19th century dress. That wouldn't have gone down too well."

€¢ The Yellow Wallpaper, Oran Mor, until Saturday.