TALK!!
Tackling the Taboo
starring Bruce Jones
TALK!! is a new theatre production that tackles a condition affecting much of the UK adult population. Rich and poor, young and old, male and female; people from all walks of life are within its grip, yet it still remains a taboo subject - depression.
TALK!! seeks to address the issues of stigma surrounding depression and encourage more openness. TALK!! aims to get people who may be suffering in silence to talk, to find help and to start to overcome their depression. It also seeks to help people recognise depression in others and to offer an open ear and helping hand.
Many people will recognise Bruce Jones as Les Battersby from t.v.'s Coronation Street. His personal battles with depression were well documented, but once he'd come through the other side, it proved to be the catalyst behind TALK!!
Bruce says, " I know now that by not talking about how I felt and by denying my depression I was just making things worse. Eventually after decades of holding it all in it finally got the better of me. But by talking and seeking help I got through it. Talking saved my life and now I want to be able to pass the message on that you are not alone, you are not a freak or a failure and there is a way out of this."
After a hugely successful career in films and on television Bruce returns to his live acting roots in this entertaining and moving one-man show.
TALK!! pulls no punches in tackling this topic and as well as exploring the deep, personal side of depression, the production talks directly about depression in an honest and entertaining way.
TALK!! is directed by Ryan Dior. Ryan is well known in theatre and television circles having enjoyed a distinguished career as an actor, director and writer. Ryan has written for many of the UK's leading soap operas and was delighted to be invited to direct TALK!!. " I have known Bruce for many years and we have a great working partnership. He is a hugely talented actor and it's a thrill to direct him on his return to the stage. Directing this show is a great challenge and one which we hope audiences will find both moving and entertaining."
The script for TALK!! has been written by Colwyn Bay-based writer and producer Huw Roberts who said of writing the production, " Depression is such an all-consuming and personal thing for people and everyone is affected in different ways so covering such a huge topic was daunting. I hope we've managed to both capture the emotional and personal pressures as well as offer a route to a route out. We didn't want the show itself to be depressing, in fact it's very quirky and full of surprises. We want people to come out of the theatre feeling positive and having had an entertaining and moving experience."
Covering the technical aspects of the production is Geoff Wiltshire of Tudno TV. Geoff brings his multi-media talents to the stage and invaluable experience to the production company itself.
The team behind TALK!! worked closely with mental health professionals and met with many people suffering from depression while putting the show together. Pulling the strings behind the production company is Steve Williams. " We were keen to ensure that our approach and views are in line with mental health charities. They do a tremendous job and everyone seems delighted that we are tackling this head on. Bruce has been a huge driving force behind this and there's a real feeling of people coming together to take this on. We'll be touring the production across the UK from April 2013 and I hope we can be a force for positive change in the way society approaches depression."
So how does Bruce feel about returning to the stage with this production? " Initially quite anxious," he says, " Most of my work over the last twenty years has been in film or television, but during rehearsals I saw how the show was coming together and now I'm very excited. It's a challenging show to perform as I have to move from some very dark places straight into talking and laughing with the audience. It will be an emotional but rewarding experience for me too. Ultimately, we just hope that with TALK!! we can help people to tackle this thing."
