Play gets nominated for British award
A Scottish charity-run drama group has beaten off competition from hundreds of productions all over the UK to be shortlisted for a prestigious theatre award.
Pink 2:2, run by Falkirk District Association for Mental Health’s (FDAMH) media group, has been shortlisted for the British Theatre Challenge for its play, Being Frank.
The play was written by the group to challenge people’s attitudes and behaviours towards people with mental health problems. It is based on the members’ individual experiences of mental ill health and their own journeys of recovery.
Award winning Falkirk writer Katie White and drama tutor Andy Corelli helped the group, getting their experiences into the script and onto the stage.
A spokeswoman from FDAMH, said: “It will be amazing if we reach the final 10. It’s such a personal play with such a deep meaning for everyone that it means everything to us.
“Quite frankly we are delighted.”
The project was funded by See Me, Scotland’s programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination.
Judith Robertson, See Me programme director, said: “We are delighted for the Pink 2:2 media group, who have created an amazing powerful play which directly challenges the stigma of mental health.
“Our aim is to create a movement of people all over the country who are passionate about ending mental-health stigma and discrimination.
“If they get into the top 10 this is a great opportunity for the FDAMH media group to spread the anti-stigma message down in London.”
The play follows main character Frank through a period of poor mental health and into his recovery, exploring the barriers and discrimination that he faces while he is unwell.
After each performance the actors and writers held a question and answer session with the audience, where they asked questions about of what it’s like to live with a mental health condition.
A total of 250 plays competed in the Theatre Challenge, run by the Sky Blue Theatre Company. The winning plays will be announced on 30 July.
