JVL - Inspire to Inspire - The Life and Soul

Joshua Van Leader - Inspire to Inspire - The Life and Soul

Date: 23rd Sept 2025

Time: 18:00 to 19:30

Location: Moda New York Square Commercial Space, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7BT

Accessibility: The event is fully accessible for individuals with mobility needs, taking place on the ground floor of the Moda New York Square Commercial Space in Leeds.

Event details:

First produced by Red Ladder Theatre Company, The Life and Soul is a 30 min theatrical performance about male mental health. The performance will be paired with a Q&A with playwright Chris O'Connor, director Leanne Rowley, actor Tom Swift and special guest Joseph Faulkner, dealing with the issues raised.

Jim’s always been a bit of a character, just like his Dad, and spends most of his life between the bookies, the pub and the football. He’s always had this lingering feeling though that he doesn’t quite fit into this world, that there’s something different about him, something wrong…

Jim’s never told his story to anyone before, but tonight he’s going to tell it to you…

Chris O'Connor (BIO)

Chris is a critically acclaimed playwright from Leeds whose work explores complex social issues through powerful human stories. The Life and Soul and The Parting Glass (Red Ladder Theatre Company) examined male mental health and toured nationally. Marching on Embers (Buglight Theatre), which tackled post-Brexit radicalisation in Northern Ireland, was praised by the Yorkshire Post as proof that “some of the very best drama happens outside London.” His radio play Exodus (Leeds Playhouse/BBC Radio), part of the Airplays series, won the O2 Media Award for Best Entertainment Programme.

Recent credits include Through It All Together at Leeds Playhouse, exploring a couple navigating a dementia diagnosis, Frankenstein and The Great Gatsby (Lawrence Batley Theatre), Beowulf and The Trial (Proper Job Theatre), and immersive work with Riptide. He co-hosted the Mantality podcast, advocating for men’s mental health, and donates 10% of his income to high-impact charities through Effective Altruism. He writes regularly on Substack about topics including mental health, philosophy, and social change. Chris is currently adapting The Life and Soul into a graphic novel and developing a pilot with BBC Voices.

Tom Swift (BIO)

Tom is a Leeds-born actor known for his work in theatre, including Red Ladder Theatre Company's production The Parting Glass and The Life and Soul. He also has featured on screen, including in Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Leanne Rowley (BIO)

Leanne is a storyteller at heart, with roots in acting and a love for ensemble-driven work. She moved into directing to deepen her creative voice and collaborative instincts. Now, as an Intimacy Coordinator, Leanne brings warmth, empathy, and a sharp eye to creating spaces where performers feel safe to take creative risks—balancing artistry with care, and always keeping the room rooted in trust and collaboration.

Joe Faulkner (BIO)

Head of Operations at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Josef is a trailblazer in mental health services, leading the Community Transformation Programme and working tirelessly to make sure that it is people and outcomes focused. His passion and enthusiasm to make things better for people is second to none. Josef's achievements have seen him recognised as a finalist for the Proud2bOps Operational Role Model of 2024 - an award celebrating ethical, inclusive leaders, who inspire and motivates others.

This event is free to attend, with an optional 'Pay As You Feel' donation if you feel inspired by the performance or discussions during the evening. Your generous contributions will be split to both support the actor, who is kindly dedicating their time to this event, and to The JVL ‘Inspire to Inspire’ project and associated charities.