BEDLAM Arts and Mental Health Festival opens on Tuesday 1st October and runs for 12 days to Saturday 12th October 2019. The festival aims to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing through the importance of the arts and coincides with World Mental Health Day on 10 October which this year focuses on Suicide Prevention.
Organisers Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Midlands Arts Centre, Sampad South Asian Arts and new partner, Birmingham-based Geese Theatre Company, bring together an accessible, celebratory, and thought-provoking arts festival in consultation with practitioners and those people who have experienced mental ill health.
The festival will showcase new and creative works performed across the city including new commissions, a world premiere, works in progress, half-day Symposium, spoken word, dance, participation, theatre, film and visual art to Hip Hop!
For BEDLAM 2019, Sampad have produced a new theatre piece, No Bond So Strong written by Olivia Winteringham. No Bond So Strong is about the mental health experiences of women during pregnancy and the first years of their children’s birth; revelling in the joys of parenthood but at the same time summoning every bit of energy not to fall apart for fear of losing it all. The show can be seen 3 & 4 October in the Foyle Studio, Midlands Arts Centre.
Tickets for No Bond So Strong can be booked here: www.macbirmingham.co.uk
Steve Ball Associate Director, Birmingham Repertory Theatre said “Studies have shown that the arts play a major role in our mental wellbeing, helping to overcome stigma, enriching lives, connecting communities and creating dialogue.
“We are therefore very proud to be able to present the 4th BEDLAM festival which brings together some of the city’s major arts organisations to inspire, challenge, create awareness and promote greater understanding through our performances and events.”
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