Disturbing Shakespeare

The final day of the INTAR conference has been as hectic as the others but was the one I was most looking forward to as it was the most performance-based - and it didn't disappoint!

Once again we had some fascinating keynote speakers, of whom my pick of the bunch was Jacqui Dillon, Chair of the Hearing Voices Network England, on 'Recovery as Social Action: The Personal is the Political' - a rousing note on which to end the day.

But we also had, amongst other things, a passionate poetry performance by Clare Shaw, interactive pop-up performances all over the two conference buildings and a great workshop from the writing group which we've been supporting for the past year.

But my favourite part of the day was the 'Disturbing Shakespeare' performance by Out Of Character theatre company from York. The company is made up of people who use mental health services and their work explores themes of madness, perception and power in various ways. In this piece they bring together a range of Shakespearean characters including Hamlet, Ophelia, Titania, Bottom, Lear and York's very own Richard III - amongst many more - in an incredibly powerful performance.

Ophelia's exquisite dance to Johnny Cash's rendition of Hurt is one of the most moving things I've ever seen performed anywhere. Utterly heartbreaking. I've vacillated all day about whether to blip a shot of that dance or this one of the whiskery man... I'm still not sure I've made the right choice but I love both pictures!

The word from the delegates was that they enjoyed the conference but we'll wait to see what the evaluation sheets (and the bank balance) tell us before we can relax fully!

Massive thanks to Jackie, without whom the conference simply wouldn't have happened, and to Sarah, without whose supportive, practical and calming presence across the desk I would probably have run away, screaming, months ago!!

Onwards and upwards!