The Committee were very impressed not only by the particular project ‘Wasted’ which was the focus of the nomination, but the wide range of important projects the company has worked on over many years. It also wants to commend you very highly not only for the public health significance of the content of your projects, but for the care taken over consultation and research in developing your productions, and in evaluating their outcomes.

Professor Stephen Clift, Chair of the RSPH Arts & Health Awards Committee

W&T have shown that laughter really can be the best medicine as its Community Comedy Club wins the Big Ideas Bonanza.

The Big Idea Bonanza – a campaign seeking ideas to improve the health of residents in Birmingham and Solihull – has announced Women & Theatre’s ‘Community Comedy Club’ as the winner of its inaugural award.

W&T’s Community Comedy Club was developed in 2010/11 in partnership with Stanhope Hall Community Centre. It consisted of 4 community comedy courses each culminating in a Comedy Night, where community participants performed their own material alongside a professional headline act  and host Mrs. Barbara Nice, the well loved comedy alter ego of W&T’s Artistic Director Janice Connolly. The courses were very successful with participants reporting raised self esteem and confidence and Comedy Events attracting large audiences and fantastic feedback.

The Big Idea Bonanza prize includes a package of support from The Young Foundation to develop the project further and maximise its potential to:

• Tackle low level mental health issues such as anxiety and depression
• Remove barriers of isolation and loneliness
• Develop new approaches in mental health
• Encourage social inclusion in health, education and the wider community
• Raise confidence and self-esteem
• Provide new opportunities for genuine social engagement

Eleanor Cappell, Social Entrepreneur in Residence at the Birmingham and Solihull NHS Cluster, who managed and ran the Big Ideas Bonanza said  “I and my colleagues at the Young Foundation look forward to working with the ‘Women & Theatre’ team over the coming months developing their ventures sustainability, scalability and impact measurement tools.”

Our Community Comedy Club has been incredibly successful, making a huge impact on individuals’ lives and uniting the Highgate community. We are thrilled to have won this award and have the opportunity to work with The Young Foundation to explore sustainable ways of developing the project, ensuring the benefits of laughter can reach more people in a range of contexts.

The Story Lady has a passion for stories; for telling them, collecting them, sharing them, performing them, singing them, for perfecting them. She is always looking for new stories, new listeners and new learners. She often appears when she is least expected; she might be hiding in a classroom, in the corner of the library, in a stationary cupboard or even under the head teachers desk! You never know….

The Story Lady project is being developed primarily in partnership with Allens Croft Primary School. It will involve regular visits from the Story Lady who will share stories with pupils and explore the ‘ingredients’ of a good story and help pupils set about creating their own. They will carry out research with people in their local communities and use their real life experiences as the basis for writing stories. The Story Lady will then work with the pupils to share those stories through performance.

The Story Lady will also be travelling on to 6 other Primary schools in Birmingham that will experience a scaled down version of the project, which will nonetheless celebrate stories and develop pupils’ speaking & listening, writing and performance skills.

This project is funded by Allens Croft Primary School and Creativity Culture and Education, as part of the national Creative Partnerships School of Creativity programme.

For more information about bringing the Story Lady to your school, community centre, hospital, workplace, or anywhere where people would like to hear a good yarn, please contact Women & Theatre on 0121 449 7117.

Free Youth Comedy Course with Mrs Barbara Nice

Laughter is a powerful force, and can be used to lift up or tear down. We believe young people can be Faithful & Funny

Calling Christian and Muslim young people!!  Come and join local comedian Mrs Barbara Nice, a stand-up comedy star with TV credits including Phoenix Nights and Coronation Street, on a comedy course that will make stand up comics out of total beginners. You also get the chance to perform at our Youth Faithful & Funny Evening at the end.  There are only 10 places, so book now!

Course held Monday 11 April to Thursday 14 April, 10am to 12pm
At The Springfield Centre, Cnr Springfield and Woodlands Roads, Moseley, B13 9NY.
Free for all students, year 10 and above. Refreshments included.
For more information or to join the course contact Helen Tomblin, on 07968 695 812 or helen@birmingham.anglican.org

Interfaith Youth Comedy Evening

Featuring Birmingham local DUNCAN LOGAN, along with Christian and Muslim young people performing stand-up comedy. Hosted by MRS BARBARA NICE.

Thursday 14 April, 7.00pm
at The Springfield Centre, cnr Springfield and Woodland Roads, Moseley.
Free curry and refreshments served.
Free, for Age 15+, everyone welcome.

This special comedy evening features stand-up from a group of Christian and Muslim young people who have been taking part in a comedy course with Mrs Barbara Nice (of Coronation Street and Phoenix Nights fame). Come and support them as they share their newfound skills alongside Barbara Nice and headlining act Duncan Logan, one of the most original, freshest and cleanest acts on the comedy circuit.

‘I really want to book this guy again and again’ – Juice Comedy.
‘Naturally talented, naturally funny’ – Surgery Comedy
‘Fantastic night definitely book him again’ – Stafford Boat Club

Course and comedy night made possible by Westhill Endowment, Women & Theatre and the Diocese of Birmingham.

Highgate Community Comedy Evening
Local people from Highgate performing their own stand-up comedy
Hosted by Mrs Barbara Nice, and featuring Jo Enright
Wednesday 30th March, 7.30pm
At Stanhope Hall Community Centre, Ketley Croft, Highgate, B12 0XG
Free curry and refreshments
Free, for Age 16+

Have a laugh at this great local night out! This special comedy evening features stand-up from a group of Highgate residents who have been taking part in a comedy course with Mrs Barbara Nice (of Coronation Street and Phoenix Nights fame.) Come and support them as they share their newfound skills alongside Barbara Nice and headlining act Jo Enright.

“I had cramp in my belly, was laughing so much.”
“Very funny. Can’t wait till there is another one. Thanks for a great evening and a great curry!”

This project has been funded through the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust’s Mental Health Grants Programme 2009-10 and suported by the Digbeth Trust.

Friday 11^th March at 3pm
Lecture Theatre, Uffculme Centre

Join us for a special International Women’s Day event, where we revisit some of our most well loved work.  Women & Theatre members Janice Connolly and Terina Talbot will perform alongside staff and service users of Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, to present extracts from The Cervical Monologues. A popular play that takes a holistic look at ‘the whole woman’; touching on love, sexuality, sexuality, relationships, body images and our general lives.

This will be an uplifting, celebratory event marking the power of the female voice and the importance of talking honestly about the things that matter, approaches that have stood Women & Theatre in good stead over the years.

Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact info@womenandtheatre.co.uk

If you would like to learn more about International Women’s Day, head over to http://internationalwomensday.com/

Other events happening across Birmingham include:

5th March 2011:

• “Celebrating the Past, Planning our Future”
  Mayfield School.
  Heathfield Road, Handsworth, Birmingham , B19 1HJ
  10am – 1pm
  
  International Women’s Day takes place in March, each year and is celebrated around the world to mark women’s struggle for equal rights, justice, peace and progress. The theme for the International Women’s Day event is Celebrating the Past, Planning our Future. The event will celebrate the 100th celebration of the International Women’s Day by promoting different services and products for women and their families with a variety of stalls and activities.   We will also provide pampering sessions for the women such as nail art, massages, etc.   If you would like to attend with a free stall, or if there is a group / organisation that you feel could attend with a stall, please feel free to inform them of the event and pass on their details to kingswayproject@yahoo.co.uk

8th March 2011:

• “Come join us for a day of fun and pampering.”
  Balsall Heath Church Centre
  100 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, B12 9JU
  10:00am til 2:00pm
  Including guest speakers, awards to community women, stalls, free hot lunch, entertainment, Mehndi and lots more. Creche also available (booked in advance only)

• Majils – Women Unplugged
  6pm – 9pm, £2 entry on the door
  Coffee Lounge, 10/11 Navigation Street, B’ham City Centre
  An open mic night, showcasing an eclectic mix of   women performers from across Birmingham, in celebration of International Women’s Day. A unique gathering of women with a shared passion for the arts, poetry, writing & music.  Whether you want to spin us a yarn, spit your bars, hit us with your punch line, wax us lyrical with your prowess, or simply sway us with your sultry sounds…Majlis is the place for you. Join us for a great night – all women welcome!

10th March 2011:

• Women’s Voices Against Global Poverty
  18:00 – 21:00
  West Midlands Fire Service HQ Vauxhall Rd, Nechells, Birmingham, B7 4HW
  Jubilee Debt Campaign Multifaith Project (JDC)
  Leading women from the different faith groups in the West Midlands will be taking part in fast moving entertainment, story telling, music, to raise awareness on the subject of Global Poverty. Keynote speaker: Shabana Mahmood MP.
  http://www.jdcmultifaith.org/

31st March 2011:

• Still… No Limits (£5 / £3)
  7:30pm @ The Drum
  An emotionally charged evening of dance and song, which embraces the challenges and aspirations women are experiencing as mothers, leaders, sisters and friends. The event marks International Women’s Day (IWD).
  http://www.the-drum.org.uk/event/stil-no-limits

Free Comedy Course with Mrs Barbara Nice

• Create your own stand-up comedy routine
• Develop your skills on the microphone
• Build your confidence
• Make your voice heard
• Have a laugh with new mates!

Come and join popular local comedian Mrs Barbara Nice, a stand-up comedy star with TV credits including Phoenix Nights and Coronation Street, on a comedy course that will make stand up comics out of total beginners.  You also get the chance to perform at a Community Comedy Evening at the end.  There are only 15 places, so book now!

Course held on Wednesday Evenings, 7pm – 9pm

From 2^nd March – 30^th March 2011

At Stanhope Hall Community Centre, Ketley Croft, Highgate, B12 0XG

Free for all 16+ living in or around Highgate

For more information or to join the course call Pippa at Women & Theatre on 0121 449 7117 or email pippafrith@womenandtheatre.co.uk

This project has been funded through the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust’s Mental Health Grants Programme 2009-10 and suported by the Digbeth Trust.

Join us for the launch of the exciting new “Gay Birmingham Back to Back” LGBT History Project, as part of LGBT History Month 2011. Featuring talks, a film screening, poetry and debate.

25th February 2011, 7-8.30pm
Hexagon Theatre, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham
£3 with free drink
Booking: 0121 446 3232 or www.macarts.co.uk

The Palace of Wasted Dreams
Thurs 3rd – Sat 5th & Wed 9th – Sat 12th February, 8pm
mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
Tickets & Information:0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk
Tickets £12 (£8) (Suitable for ages 14+)

It’s here, it’s arrived. Come on in! The Palace of Wasted Dreams.

Licensed for laughing, crying, dancing, singing, surprising and thinking on.
A place where anything can happen, and something always does…
Whether you’ve been before or it’s your very first time, come on down to the Palace!

The Palace of Wasted Dreams is the culmination of a two-year project called Wasted, a new participatory musical theatre project exploring and giving voice to women’s relationship with alcohol.
An essential night out, an intoxicating total live theatre experience. Dress for a night out. Non-drinkers very welcome!

The Palace of Wasted Dreams has been devised by Women & Theatre from materials gathered through research. It is performed by Women & Theatre and a cast of local people and directed by Gwenda Hughes. Music has been composed by Gurdan Thomas and The Company, with musical direction by Clare Edwards. Production Design is by Andrew Purvin, Lighting Design by Simon Bond, and Stage Management by Sara Crathorne.

The Palace of Wasted Dreams is a co-production with mac and is supported by Arts Council England, Aquarius, Sir Barry Jackson Trust, Bryant Trust, AERC, John Feeney Charitable Trust, Birmingham City Council, the Harry Payne Trust, The Grimmitt Trust and The Cole Charitable Trust.

Women and Theatre are sad to announce that after 27 years based at The Friends Institute we have moved to new premises. We have relocated to The Old Lodge within the Uffculme premises – the home of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. We would like thank the Friends Institute, and all its staff, tenants and supporters both past and present, we had a fantastic time there and will always value the relationships developed over the years. We would also like to thank everyone at Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust and the Uffculme Centre for the warm welcome, and new friendships and partnerships to come!