shaira yasmin berg

Multidisciplinary neuroscientist and creative whose work bridges the arts and neuroscience. She is the Co-Founder of Shy Girl Productions, an initiative dedicated to telling stories by and about women through theatre and film. Her recent work includes ‘Gaslight’, an Off-West End Theatre Award–nominated play now in post-production as an independent film, exploring trauma and mental health through metaphorical storytelling. As a PhD candidate in Psychology (Behavioural Neuroscience) from the University of Cambridge, her current collaborations include designing immersive virtual reality experiments in partnership with multi-BAFTA award-winning studio Ninja Theory blending neuroscience and cinema.

ABOUT SHY GIRL PRODUCTIONS

Shaira Berg is the Co-Founder and Director of Shy Girl Productions - a female-led cultural platform specialising in creating female-led film and theatre dedicated to crafting compelling narratives driven by women, amplifying their experiences on stage and screen. Previous production 'Gaslight' was nominated for an Off West-End Theatre Award (2024) and received multiple five-star reviews and is in post-production for film.

ABOUT gaslight the movie

AS WRITER, PRODUCER AND LEADING ACTRESS

'Gaslight' written and produced by Shaira Yasmin Berg has transcended its origins as an award-nominated Off West-End play to become a powerful and important film that dives deep into the complexities of trauma, mental health, and the silent struggles of sexual assault survivors. Adapted from the stage production, the movie is currently in post-production and promises to be just as poignant and impactful as its theatrical counterpart. Drawing from the personal lived experience of sexual assault, 'Gaslight' takes audiences on a harrowing journey through a dystopian world where life-threatening wounds are dismissed and survivors are left to navigate an environment that acknowledges their pain but offers no real support.

The story centres on Scarlet, a university student who wakes up after a party to discover a mysterious wound in the middle of her chest. As the physical injury grows over the course of the film, it becomes a powerful metaphor for her emotional and psychological trauma. The movie explores how this wound, a manifestation of her inner pain, expands as Scarlet grapples with a world that sees her suffering but fails to take any action. Through this metaphor, we get a raw and deeply sensitive portrayal of what it’s like to endure trauma in silence, unable to find true solace or validation.

What makes 'Gaslight' so important and timely is how it reflects the ongoing conversation about mental health and trauma, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of storytelling. The film sensitively examines the complexity of dealing with sexual assault and the long-lasting effects it has on a person’s psyche, showing how the weight of trauma can affect every aspect of life, especially in a society that often minimises or ignores these experiences. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of acknowledging mental health struggles and creating spaces where survivors are heard, seen, and supported.

As we work towards finishing post-production, we’re incredibly excited for audiences to experience the power of 'Gaslight' . Its success on stage was a testament to how much these stories need to be told, and we’re confident that the film version will resonate with viewers just as deeply, sparking meaningful conversations about trauma, resilience, and the necessity of understanding and supporting mental health.

Meet the Team Behind The Shy Girl Productions Collective

  • Shaira Yasmin Berg

    CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

  • Sarah Walton-Smith

    CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

  • Ella Harpaz-Joralemon

    ASSOCIATE

SHAIRA’S current and upcoming PROJECTS:

Shaira’s creative endeavours include a role opposite BAFTA and Emmy award-winner David Tennant in The Hack (2025), and her ongoing work on Gaslight (2025), an independent film she wrote and produced. She is also working with BAFTA award-winning game studio Ninja Theory to design immersive virtual reality scenarios for her PhD research at the University of Cambridge, blending storytelling and science to deepen our understanding of trauma and mental health.

upcoming book, audiobook and podcast series

the heimdall project

The Heimdall Project is an upcoming young adult science fiction psychological thriller by Shaira Yasmin Berg that blends dystopia with themes of identity, memory, and the price of power.

In a world built on lies, can you trust your own mind?

When 17-year-old Princess Stella is sent to Heimdall Academy, a remote boarding school hidden deep in the Alps for the heirs of the world’s most powerful monarchies, she begins to experience strange dreams, eerie nightly patrols and the suffocating sense that something is deeply wrong.

As alliances crumble and rebellion brews, Stella must confront not only the secrets of the Academy, but the buried truth of who she really is and who she can trust.

Drawing from cognitive science and the emotional architecture of leadership, the story invites young readers to think critically about how experiences and environments can shape behaviour in unique and unexpected ways.

This debut will be available soon on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats with an audiobook and podcast version releasing on Audible, iTunes, Spotify and Amazon Music.

HIGHLIGHTED FILM AND TELEVISION CREDITS

PRESS IMAGES

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