list.co.uk/festival A Gala for Mental Health | FESTIVAL FEATURES

BATTLING THE

BLACK DOG

Returning for a second year, A Gala for Mental Health

aims to raise funds as well as awareness among Fringe audiences, as David Pollock nds out

w i t hhh w i t h

‘S omething extraordinary happened at the Fringe last year,’ says Andrew Eaton-Lewis, programmer of the Gala for Mental lead with the Mental Health Foundation. It Health and arts lead with the Mental Health Foundation. ‘It death of Robin Williams ith the death of Robin Williams had something to do with the point the previous year, as alking point the previous year, as which had been a big talking F r i n g e e the F r i n g e it happened just before the to do started and something to do d Tim Bryony Kimmings and Tim It ‘Til Grayburn’s show Fake It ‘Til erated a huge You Make It, which generated a huge y.’ It was also buzz almost immediately.’ It was also ala for Mental the year that the i rst Gala for Mental g the Fringe, Health happened during the Fringe, the MHF, and partly as a fundraiser for the MHF, and e. partly to capture this wave. It was a show t ‘Fake It ’Til You Make It was a show eone else, which about taking care of someone else, which even if they’ve not everyone can relate to even if they’ve not lth problems themselves,’ gone through mental health problems themselves,’ is well-placed to notice such says Eaton-Lewis, who is well-placed to notice such tor of The Scotsman. He also things as the festival editor of The Scotsman. He also colat as another high-proi le points to Le Gateau Chocolat as another high-proi le ct, noting that the last gala 2015 show on the subject, noting that the last gala n doing improv and ended started with Paul Merton doing improv and ended cabaret performer paying with an opera-singing cabaret performer paying ker Adrian Howells, who tribute to the theatremaker Adrian Howells, who e previous year. ‘We seem had taken his own life the previous year. ‘We seem where talking openly about to have reached a point where talking openly about heatre or in comedy has hit mental health issues in theatre or in comedy has hit the mainstream.’

Also appearing will be Chris Gethard, whose show Career Suicide is literally about suicide (see review, page 51); Susan Calman, who has written a book on living with depression; Richard Gadd, who discus written a book on living with depression; Richard Gadd, who discusses perceptions of masculinity and how that affects our mental state; perceptions of masculinity and how that affects our mental state; and Martha McBrier, whose Japanese Boy is about the time she too Martha McBrier, whose Japanese Boy is about the time she took a group of mental health patients to a pool tournament. group of mental health patients to a pool tournament.

is is

and wallet in it, and now and wallet in it, and now

control issues who issues who control The seriousness is The seriousness is all I have to worry all I have to worry making sure the making sure the side as me. If side as me. If the other side of the other side of which the the which The Fringe is The Fringe is Eaton-Lewis, Eaton-Lewis, want to know want to know ‘The whole show was supposed to be jokes about mental hea ‘The whole show was supposed to be jokes about mental health statistics and up until six weeks ago it was,’ says Ward of her o statistics and up until six weeks ago it was,’ says Ward of her own work. ‘Then I left a bag on the bus that had my laptop and k work. ‘Then I left a bag on the bus that had my laptop and keys the show is about a lady w the show is about a lady with loses her bag on a b loses her bag on a bus. already in the subject already in the subject, so about is the humour about is the humour and audience are on the sa audience are on the same they’re looking at me fr they’re looking at me from the glass they might pity the glass they might pity me, death of comedy.’ death of comedy.’ the world in microcosm, s the world in microcosm, says or at least a part of it. ‘If y or at least a part of it. ‘If you what the big political iss what the big political issues of our time are, or how so of our time are, or how social attitudes are changing, lo attitudes are changing, look to the Fringe. The number to the Fringe. The number of Fringe performers who are n Fringe performers who are now doing shows talking openly ab doing shows talking openly about mental health suggests attitudes mental health suggests attitudes are changing in the wider world too, although there’s still a lo changing in the wider world too, although there’s still a long way to go. Comedians feeling able to talk openly about anxiety way to go. Comedians feeling able to talk openly about anxiety or depression is one thing; teachers, labourers, nurses, managers depression is one thing; teachers, labourers, nurses, managers and so on feeling they can do it without fear of repercussions is anoth so on feeling they can do it without fear of repercussions is another.’

ys, will focus explicitly on This year’s gala, he says, will focus explicitly on een the tide shifting in that comedy, because he’s seen the tide shifting in that months, as well. As in 2015, regard over the last 12 months, as well. As in 2015, osted by Felicity Ward, who this year’s gala will be hosted by Felicity Ward, who ar’s show about the anxiety has followed up last year’s show about the anxiety el syndrome with another of having irritable bowel syndrome with another h, 50% More Likely to Die. show about mental health, 50% More Likely to Die.

A Gala for Mental Health, Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 17 Aug, A Gala for Mental Health, Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 17 Au 11pm, £10. 11pm, £10.

Felicity Ward: 50% More Likely to Die, Pleasance Felicity Ward: 50% More Likely to Die, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 29 Aug (not 15), 9pm, £10– Courtyard, 556 6550, until 29 Aug (not 15), 9pm, £10– £13.50 (£9–£12.50). £13.50 (£9–£12.50).

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11–18 Aug 2016 THE LIST FESTIVAL 21 11–18 Aug 2016 THE LIST FESTIVAL