It  gives me great pleasure to refer to the staging of the play A FACE IN THE CROWD together with the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery and REACH RCSI. This initiative a PNA first was written by Mr Niall O’Muiri, a former PNA member and branch official. The play originated in Co Wexford, with the support of Wexford Mental Health Association and was co-created with service-users. The play authentically depicted the lived experiences of service users living with mental illness and themes of isolation, despair, loneliness, depression, hope, comfort, respite and recovery had the audience transfixed. Two performances of the play were staged, with an afternoon performance for local schools and an evening performance for the general public. The Faculty generously offered this event free of charge to all attendees. The 4th, 5th and 6th year students from Presentation Secondary, CBS Synge St., CBS Westland Row and CBS James St. attended the play. Given the powerful and honest portrayal of living with a mental illness, and the potential of this to stimulate questions or concerns for the students, a professionally facilitated follow-up mental health workshop was hosted the following day, where key themes could be explored and discussed in a safe environment. Teachers, from each of the schools, accompanied students to the workshop and this aspect of the play was positively evaluated by both the students and the teachers. The EVENING PERFORMANCE staged to a full house where over 400 people attended .RTE’s Mr Ray D’arcy welcomed the audience, and provided the context to the play highlighting in particular the importance of conversations on mental health and ill health, we are particularly grateful to key collaborators in the project Professor Thomas Kearns, Ms Catherine Clune Mulvaney Faculty of Nursing RCSI, Ms Maria Kelly REACH RCSI, Mr Niall O Muiri Playwright the support and catering staff of RCSI and Sponsors Cornmarket . We especially wish to acknowledge the storytellers, whose experience of living with mental distress were shared on stage and for their attendance and support on the night.

You Can view Photos of the Event Here