CURRENT PROJECT
Awkward Silence
Performed at the Lilian Baylis Studio Sadler's Wells in July 2011. This devised theatre in education play ‘Awkward Silence’ explores the world through the eyes of young people affected with a mental health condition and examines the stigma and exclusion they face as they live their everyday lives. Through a serious of monologues, flashbacks and short scenes our piece goes ‘into the heads’ of those often silent voices living in our community. It challenges our perceptions of what it is really like coping and surviving and encourages debate around what can be a taboo subject whilst promoting positive attitudes to mental health.
Mental health is still a taboo subject, you get asked how you are and you just say ‘fine’. An Awkward Silence explodes this with an upfront, raw and extremely powerful portrayal of the lives of ordinary young people who through bitter experience are exposed to experiences that turn their lives upside down. The production is thoughtful, moving and inspirational and should be seen in as many schools and colleges as possible so that young people feel they aren’t alone when they suffer inside.
Lucie Russell|Director of Campaigns, Policy and Participation|YoungMinds
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
City and Islington College: Wednesday 12th October
The Unicorn Theatre: Tuesday 8th November
Awkward Silence is back and re-worked following our successful night at the Lilian Baylis. We are performing at City and Islington College as part of Mental Health Week. Supported by Battle Front we will continue our challenge to promote positive attitudes about mental health.
In November we will performan at the Unicorn Theatre as part of YoungMinds annual debate. Every year YoungMinds, the voice for children and young people's mental health and wellbeing has an annual debate. Attended by around 200 professionals in the young people's mental health sector, including policy makers, civil servants, practitioners and universal children's services staff the debate has consistently been a stimulating and enjoyable evening.
The title of the debate this year is- 'Is our target driven school system damaging our young people's mental health?' At the event we will also be launching our YoungMinds in schools project and a short film about stigma made by the young people we work with.
