Many Minds charity celebrates the power of nature to improve mental health in times of COVID - through new musical performance
Many Minds is a mental health and performance charity based in Bristol which works with people who experience mental ill-health. By creating imaginative performances with its members the charity helps to improve confidence, reduce stigma, build self-esteem and social skills and put people in the driving seat of their own lives and wellbeing. COVID 19 has brought many challenges and Many Minds has been working to create a new musical performance piece which explores the themes of loneliness and isolation and the power of nature to offer comfort and connection. I've been waiting… will take place on 1st and 2nd October at the Theatre on the Downs, Bristol and everyone is invited!
Many Minds Artistic Director, Viki Browne says; ‘The pandemic has really affected people's mental health. Since the first lockd own in March 2020, we have been safely engaging with people to keep them connected and have been working on this musical performance via online platforms and phone-in workshops. Our members wanted to create a piece about their relationship with nature and how important it has been to keep them going in these challenging times. It is more important than ever to bring people together to celebrate through performance .'
A national survey was commissioned by Many Minds and conducted by Survation with 1003 people aged 18 plus in December 2020. It revealed that almost half of people questioned Directed by Artistic Director of Many Minds feel that being creative has boosted their Viki Browne, with renowned Vocal Composer, mental health during lockdown. Many Minds Verity Standen and Sound Designer, Jack Executive Director, Olivia Ware says: ‘It's Drewry, Many Minds have created a interesting to see that more people have been celebration of the natural world. They have engaging in arts and crafts activity during the achieved this through the use of voice, confines of the pandemic. Creative activity sounds, songs and movement to bring people brings hope, joy and value to people's lives together and offer comfort in the most and provides a place for them to turn to in challenging of times. hard times. We know that being involved in the arts can be hugely beneficial for people's I've been waiting… is a 25 minute mental health. But not everyone has the same performance with a 15-minute Q&A session opportunities to take part and that's what we that will be part of a larger production due to at Many Minds are looking to address through take place at the Bristol Old Vic in October performances like the one we're showcasing 2022. this year and next." 10
