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Talking Balls

An entertaining collection of true life testimonies exploring men health issues and men’s “hands on” relationship with their crown jewels!

Availability:

Currently available for one-off bookings and short tours. Please contact info@womenandtheatre.co.uk for more information

Introduction

Speaking the truth. Saying the unsayable… Talking Balls!

Talking Balls is an entertaining collection of true life testimonies exploring men’s hands on relationship with their crown jewels! Researched with health professionals and men of diverse ages and backgrounds, the monologues aim to increase awareness of a range of health issues that can affect men. This includes rarely spoken about issues such as:
• testicular & prostate cancers
• an increased awareness of the early signs and symptoms to look out for
• STIs
• body image
• getting to the bottom of why men are increasingly unlikely to visit a GP
• where to seek advice and support with regards to the issues covered in the piece

strong>Talking Balls is ideal for traditionally hard to reach male audiences: entertaining theatre with a healthy dollop of humour, which raises awareness around specific health issues and allows people to make informed choices about their own health and healthcare. Forming a “brother” piece to W&T’s highly successful production The Cervical Monologues, Talking Balls marks the Company’s first male-focussed production and follows the same winning monologues format. Some are long, some are short, but size is not important!
‘It was fab – just the right balance of humour and information.’ Audience Member

The play is accompanied by a facilitated post-show discussion, allowing audiences to engage with the issues raised, share their experiences and receive accurate information.

History

Talking Balls was originally developed in partnership with the Federation of Stadium Communities (FSC), a national charity. As part of their Healthy Stadia Initiative, they approached W&T to explore ways of bringing positive health messages to traditionally “hard to reach” male audiences in often deprived stadium neighbourhoods. Women & Theatre had been eager to create a men’s health piece for years, and had developed a short preview of Talking Balls which was a hit at Birmingham’s Artsfest 2006. With the FSC on board and additional research at football stadiums, Talking Balls was developed into a full length theatre piece by Peter Wynne-Willson and W&T’s core artistic team.

Working in partnership with FSC, Talking Balls premiered at the Port Vale FC in March 2007, and went on to tour to community spaces at 8 football stadia across the West Midlands, including Walsall FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Aston Villa FC, and West Bromwich Albion FC.

The development and pilot tour of Talking Balls was made possible with generous funding from Arts Council of England West Midlands, Sir Barry Jackson Trust, William A. Cadbury Charitable Trust, The Bryant Trust, and The Harry Payne Trust.

Since the pilot tour, the ground-breaking Talking Balls has proved popular for bookings by one off training & health promotion events and raising awareness events in schools.

It has been performed at:
• A week of training events in Glasgow targeting South Lanarkshire Council Refuge Teams
• Health promotion road shows for Dudley Beacon & Castle PCT
• Belgrave High School in Tamworth, targeting boys in years 10 and 11

Notes

For some time we have wanted as mothers, wives, sisters, girlfriends, work colleagues and best friends, to provide a platform for the too often ignored area of men’s health. Talking Balls was created from one to one and group interviews with men living and working in The West Midlands. We also sent out emails asking for responses to questions like

“How would you describe what it feels like to be hit in the balls?”

“Like someone has taken a red hot poker and rammed it into your stomach and mixed your insides up then pulled them out through your belly button….. SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO painful!”

The interviews and emails were then used to create a series of monologues that we hope will entertain, inform, empower and inspire.
Janice Connolly, W&T’s Artistic Director

Outcome

Talking Balls has been proved an ideal piece to reach out to “non traditional” male audiences with positive health messages. The pilot tour of 2007 was the subject of an in-depth Independent Evaluation, written by Alan Hatton-Yeo, which highlighted a number of success areas, including:

‘The play was clearly an effective and highly regarded experience by audience members which achieved an impact.’ A significant proportion of 56% made changes (including self examination, seeing the doctor more often) as a result of seeing the play and many of those that didn’t were regular ‘checkers’ already!

‘…one of its most important impacts was to raise people’s understanding that testicular cancer effected young men.’ Young men were vocal about having learnt this, and that it can be successfully treated when diagnosed early.

‘…women were passionate about the importance of promoting the message of the play’ Women who attended performances (a significant number) observed that they would pass on the healthy messages to their husbands, fathers and sons.

‘Follow up interviews confirmed that the production had made people think …in particular the issue about why men are less likely to go to the Doctor and seek help’.

Discussions around this issue highlighted the need for promoting positive, proactive attitudes to health amongst men when they are young, ensuring young men grow up demanding a level of healthcare their fathers’ refused to take up.

“The play was clearly an effective and highly regarded experience by audience members which achieved an impact…”
Alan Hatton-Yeo, Independent Evaluator of Talking Balls

Audience comments

“All men should see it! A fantastic way of tackling men’s health and a great evening of entertainment!”

“I learnt not to put off what you can do today. This affects all age groups.”

“I thought the relaxed style was more enjoyable than a lecture. I feel more confident to talk about it now.”

“Great down to earth feel – you could hear the real stories coming through.”

“I’ve learned to act as soon as you discover something wrong, and will try not to be embarrassed next time I have to visit the doctor.”

Production Credits

Researched and written by:
Peter Wynne-Willson
Janice Connolly
Michael Aduwali
Terina Talbot

Original Cast:
Greg Hobbs
Rupi Lal
Jeff Alexander

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