JVL - Inspire to Inspire - World Suicide Prevention Day (Evening Event)

Joshua Van Leader - Inspire to Inspire - World Suicide Prevention Day (Evening Event) - Northern Rascals (Sunny Side) Dance/Theatre Short Film Screening, Talk & Q&A

Date: 10th September 2025

Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

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 Overview:

On the 10th September 2025 it is World Suicide Prevention Day as well as for the first time ever the Baton of Hope arrives into the city of Leeds, with one of the handovers in the Joshau Van Leader exhibition space. To celebrate this day we have a range of presentations and events across the day and would love as many people as possible to come to either the full day or selected parts of the day.

Three Eventbrite events have been scheduled for the day — Morning, Afternoon, and Evening sessions. Everyone is welcome to attend as many as they'd like. Feel free to spread the word — we’re aiming for a great turnout!

6:30 PM

Creating and Connecting

As part of the ‘Inspire to Inspire’ exhibition celebrating the life of Joshua Van Leader, Northern Rascals will host an evening of creativity and connection.

Join us at Moda, New York Square for a screening of Sunny Side: Short Film, a Q&A session with Artistic Directors Anna and Sam, followed by an hour-long interactive workshop.

The Film

Welcome to Sunny Side: The Short Film - where Northern Rascals imagine a world where it is safe for men to express their vulnerabilities, to hold each other, to comfort, to dance.

Sunny Side explores the complexities of mental health and masculinity in rural communities, blending poetry, movement and striking visuals into a story that stays with you long after watching.

The film was inspired by a drop-in session at The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, where men aged 18–75 shared raw, honest reflections on their mental health. One quote in particular inspired the film: “One night I went dancing, and that was the night the depression got attacked.”

Join for a screening of the 9-minute film, followed by a Q&A with Co-Artistic Directors Anna Holmes and Sam Ford, and a creative workshop.

The Workshop

Designed for dancers and writers, this workshop will explore Northern Rascals’ unique approach to combining movement, poetry, and music, and how these different mediums inspire each other in the company’s performances.

The workshop is divided into sections, each featuring:

• A live performance of company repertoire from Sunny Side and Reviving Her, performed by the company’s professional dancers
• Live spoken text by the company’s writer, Anna
• Live music from the company’s composer, Wilfred Kimber

Using each section as a creative prompt, dancers and writers are invited to create their own improvised responses. Dancers will draw inspiration from the performances, while writers will respond to the unfolding scene. This mirrors how the company works in its own practice.

The goal of the workshop is to inspire a sense of connection and creativity.

Important Info:

• Free to attend, but booking is essential.
• We have 12 places available for dancers and 30 places for writers. If you wish to dance and write, please book both tickets.
• If you'd like to simply observe, please book a writing place.
• Additional audience tickets may be released if demand increases.

About Northern Rascals

Led by Sam Ford and Anna Holmes, Northern Rascals are a dance theatre company based in Yorkshire. Established in 2017, the company is driven by social conscience and uses theatre and contemporary dance to lead audiences to original narratives rooted in the current socio-political climate. Nationally recognised, Northern Rascals are renowned for their raw yet poetic interpretation of today’s world and the people that inhabit it and celebrated for their dedication to using Northern voices to spearhead that poeticism.

Since founding the company, Anna and Sam have built a strong track record of support and commissions from Arts Council England, Leeds City Council, The Place (Choreodrome Artists 2020), Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Culturedale 2024, Jasmin Vardimon Company, Rural Touring Dance Initiative, The Royal Exchange Theatre (Hodgkiss Award, shortlisted), and the National CAT Scheme.