Stepping Out Theatre

(Mark Rylance with Project Co - ordinators Steve Hennessy and Ann Stiddard)

Photo; Michael Brydon

"The work Stepping Out Theatre is doing should be supported by all interested in a society that is healthy. Stepping Out understands and does not shy away from the possibility that theatre, the ancient art of these islands North West of Europe, is a transformative and healing activity which brings joy into people's lives. If you want to hear something true, go and hear what Stepping Out Theatre are saying. I only found myself in theatre, and I hear that Stepping Out is helping other people do the same. I have great hopes for this company and deep respect for what they are doing right now."

Mark Rylance (PATRON)

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Formed in 1997, based in Bristol, and with forty productions to its credit, Stepping Out Theatre is the country’s leading mental health theatre group. It has produced a wide range of work on mental health themes and is open to people who have used mental health services and their allies.

The group focuses on producing plays, but also runs drama, writing, dramatherapy, dance and music workshops. It offers mental health service users the opportunity to work alongside people with professional experience of writing, directing and acting, some of whom are service users themselves. Stepping Out Theatre is a registered charity.

(Registered Charity Number : 1117912)

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Our Next Production is;

Hermione Steel and the Island of Lost Minds

This production is dedicated to Gill Amphlett (1955 - 2012)

Click Here for information and performance schedules

A Unique Theatre Company

Stepping Out Theatre is run by a group of trustees which includes people who have used mental health services and people who have worked in mental health and the arts. Copies of our constitution, our latest accounts and Annual Report are available from the Stepping Out office and you can view them online through this website.

Typical feedback from mental health service users who have taken part in our productions includes:

"Stepping Out has done me more good than all the doctors and all the tablets I ever took."
"I felt like I had been asleep for thirty years and then, doing the play, I came awake."

The Aims of the Group

1) To relieve the conditions of mental health service users through the medium of theatre.

2) To advance the education of the public about mental health in order to raise their awareness, by producing plays which deal with this issue and counter negative stereotypes of people with mental health problems.

3) To advance the education and training of mental health service users and their allies to develop their creative talents, build supportive networks and produce high quality theatre on mental health themes.

A Range of Work

The Company aims to bridge the gap between community theatre and the professional fringe. We produce three types of work;

* Large scale plays with mixed casts of service users and experienced actors.
* Cabaret evenings showcasing performance in many different media.
* Small cast studio productions on mental health themes involving experienced actors.

As well as full scale theatre productions, we can also provide;

* Shorter pieces as entertainment for conferences and social events. These can be tailored to suit an organisation's individual requirements.

* Training for mental health staff using roleplay.

Local Success, National Recognition

Stepping Out Theatre is a local success story but has also won prestigious national awards. It won a Focus on Mental Health Award and the Rosalind Caplin Award, both in recognition of its high quality and groundbreaking work in mental health. The group's productions have also twice come second in the national "Best Event - World Mental Health Day" Competition.

Website last updated : June 6th, 2013

Registered Charity Number : 1117912