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Well Issue 3: Autumn/Winter 2003/04

Interactive drama comes Out of Eden

One Saturday morning in June this year a group of young people, drama enthusiasts and people who work within mental health services, got together in Fort William to explore the themes of mental health, stigma and stereotyping through improvisation and drama workshops.

The result forms the basis of a play entitled "Stigma" which will be performed for 4th to 6th-year pupils in 20 secondary schools in the Highland region in September and October.

Funding from the Scottish Executive's National Programme has enabled the Highland Users Group, Lochaber Youth Minds and Eden Court Theatre to work in partnership to research, write, produce and perform the interactive drama production, which aims to examine misconceptions of mental health, historical stereotypes and the attitude of the media. The production will be supplemented by teacher's resource packs, discussion sessions and follow-up workshops in schools.

Written by Ilona Munro, one of Eden Court's Outreach workers, "Stigma" combines factual information with some of the ideas developed from the initial workshop:

"We began by exploring some mythical stereotypes - like caricatures of Freudian doctors, Hollywood portrayals of people with schizophrenia and those experiencing psychosis," says Ilona, who has had plays produced in London, Sudely Castle and at the Edinburgh Fringe.

"Then we looked at themes of depression, suicide and self-harm and how we could effectively raise awareness and portray these issues in the play. The media's role also features strongly."

"Stigma" follows a week in the lives of four young people, one of whom has depression and has attempted suicide, and one of whom self-harms. The play is performed by four actors who play numerous different parts from a dad to a psychiatrist.

"The issue of self-harm came through particularly strongly," says Ilona. "It's quite a complex issue and the play concentrates on the often secretive nature of self-harm and how it can be a way of expressing what cannot be expressed by words. Some say as many as one teenager in ten could be affected, but it's difficult to say exactly as most keep their self-harm private. Health professionals probably see only the tip of the iceberg, and certainly nothing like this number."

A Dress Rehearsal of "Stigma" will be performed at Eden Court Theatre on Tuesday 23 September for an invited audience of users of mental health services, key stakeholders in education, health and community care services.

The School Tour begins on Monday 29 September for two weeks.

For details contact John Batty,
Eden Court Theatre
Tel: 01463 239841
Email:outreach2@eden-court.co.uk

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