For some it means a trip out to enjoy a show with family and friends, to others the chance to see a much-loved play or musical live on stage and to many, an all too important link with the community and like-minded people. Whichever applies, it’s long been known that the impact of the arts, and theatre in particular on mental health, is huge.

The Mental Health Foundation note that ‘engaging in arts, social activities and interaction within our communities can help with major challenges such as ageing and loneliness. It can help to boost confidence and make us feel more engaged and resilient. Besides these benefits, art engagement also alleviates anxiety, depression and stress.’

Access to the arts can be important therapy

The Welsh NHS Confederation report on Arts, Health and Wellbeing, published in May 2018 noted evidence that access to the arts can be important therapy – stimulating ‘cognitive function in older adults who have dementia or related disorders, and may reduce depression in those with Parkinson’s disease’ as well as the arts reducing anxiety and improving feelings of confidence in children with asthma and proving a positive way of dealing with pain for young cancer patients.

This is what makes the current situation, of theatres and arts venues being thrown into darkness due to the outbreak of Covid 19, even more unsettling. With no clear idea as to when venues may be able to re-open in the UK, and ongoing concerns of public safety, as well as the effect on production companies, freelance workers and venues themselves, the impact on mental health with threat to the future of these facilities is a major concern.

The need for hope, wellbeing and connection

For many, the arts are a way of connecting and engaging with the world, escaping the everyday and even expressing their own thoughts and feelings. Whether music, theatre, art or literature, access to these art forms ensures positive feeling and progression in humans. By closing and remaining closed, therefore taking many art forms away from the consumer, this is also taking away a sense of hope, wellbeing and connection for many.

“Evidence suggests that engagement with the arts can improve a person’s physical and mental well-being. The benefits of arts activities are being seen beyond traditional settings, and their role in supporting communities and individuals who would otherwise be excluded is increasingly being recognised.’’ 

The Welsh NHS Confederation report on Arts, Health and Well-being – May 2018

 

A place for communities to grow and share their joy

Theatres and Arts venues can be a place for communities to grow and share together. The theatre I work for regularly provide music and dance sessions in all forms as well as an art gallery for the community.

My Moves and My Voices, are weekly dance and singing workshops for Adults with learning difficulties both supported by Arts Care Gofal Celf, the Cradle Choir group (run by WNO) supports those living with Dementia; and Torch Voices, a community choir run by West End music producer Angharad Sanders, which is open to everyone who loves to sing and share their joy of music. All of these have been regularly well received, growing in numbers over the years and feedback has communicated a positive effect for those involved.

These workshops and classes have moved online during these difficult times. Although, understandably, this doesn’t ensure inclusion and accessibility for all.

Online theatre lacks the magic experienced offline

Many Theatres have offered online screenings of productions which has softened the blow slightly. Virtual tours of museums and art galleries online, have all been well received.

The desire and need for the arts has been more sought after than ever, during the pandemic, as UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay noted,

“Bringing people together, inspiring, soothing and sharing: these are the powers of art, the importance of which has been made emphatically obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic’’

(UN News April 2020)

Yet watching these from the sofa, in the surroundings of your own home, where you have been in lockdown for a considerable period, brings a completely different experience. There is something about being in a live auditorium, the rush of the atmosphere as the show is about to start, the chatter of excited voices, the strike of a live band playing out, the collective laughter or applause of a group of like-minded people.

And of course, the production itself. The actors, the set, the costumes, the words, the music, the perfumed smoke that wisps above the heads of the audience in front of you. Nothing can quite replace this. People long for this to return, with no real idea of when it might.

Theatre highlights the importance of talking about mental health

And of course, Theatre can be used to highlight the importance of talking about mental health. The Torch Theatre has supported productions such as Belonging, a bilingual play by relive Theatre about Dementia and its impact on those affected by it, Say When (a play about men’s weight and links to mental health) by Living Pictures productions as well as producing their own fantastic version of ‘One Flew over the cuckoo’s nest’ directed by Peter Doran, which returned in 2017 to celebrate 40 years of the Torch Theatre. They worked with the mental health charity Mind during the productions run to raise money to support the charity.

Referring to the production, Peter Doran said,

“I hope people will be reminded of the fantastic work that goes on in the mental health service; every day is a challenge but every day you are helping somebody to get through very difficult times. I also hope people will witness the power of theatre.”

Productions such as these and many others, have been key to raising awareness of mental health as well as providing an outlet and shared space to explore and deal with the subject. This also shows the powerful impact that the arts can have on a community, making them think and understand, whilst simultaneously providing award winning theatre.

It’s not just about watching Theatre, but also about the message it provides. This is why it’s so important to keep our Theatres and arts venues running. To keep the dream alight and that one ghost light glowing in the darkness, to show that we will return. That hope is there, if we only choose to feel it.

Support your local theatres

For now, we need to remember the importance of the arts in our communities, in our lives and for our mental health. We need to support theatres and arts venues as well as freelance artists where we can, as well as to continue to immerse ourselves wherever possible.

Screenings often offer donation options, many theatres throughout the UK offer exchange for tickets or vouchers. We can help them, whenever possible, by doing this.

We need to fight for venues to be able to re-open, for ongoing support to get them back on track. This way, we can do our best to assure that they are there for us, when we are able to return.