‘I would recommend The Theatre of the Self to anyone who has or wants to take a step back during a turbulent year, to revisit the parts of themselves that are too easily forgotten. This series of small books triumphantly invite us to weave or reweave the threads of our lives with new capacities for personal agency, and sense of self.’ Phoenix

Exploring writing the Self and mental health issues, Theatre of the Self is an art project by Delpha Hudson that It takes its starting point from a 30 day art performance of reading, editing and burning 30+ diaries (2017). The project has been published as a limited edition A6 box set with 4 accompanying mental health diaries and is online: www.theatreoftheself.co.uk

You are invited to bring a drink of your choice & optional: wear or bring an object that relates to writing or diaries.

Helen Battelley will be our host, with additional speakers contributing ‘creative pages,’ about diaries & personal writing projects, followed by Q & A.

Programme: 7.00 Welcome & introduction from our host Helen Battelley

7.15 Delpha Hudson will show the books and talk about project themes from Theatre of the Self including personal story telling and psychological narrative restructuring for mental health

7.35 ‘Creative page’ from Davina Kirkpatrick on writing and her project Quarantine conversations

7. 45 ‘Creative page’ from Polly Hudson on writing from the body. Polly will share some thoughts about embodiment, and on writing from movement and sensation.

7.55 ‘Creative page’ from Rene Crouch about personal creative writing responses

8.05-8.30 Q&A session

More information about contributors:

Delpha Hudson BA MA is an artist who makes work about women and visibility. She has made and curated inter-disciplinary multi-media art works since 1998. Her video and performance works have been shown internationally, with work commissioned for the Tate St Ives and galleries around the UK. She currently works from her studio In Bread Street, Penzance.

Dr Davina Kirkpatrick has an MA in multidisciplinary printmaking and a practice based PhD examining grief, loss and living with the presence of absence from University of the West of England. She is both an academic and an artist.

Dr Polly Hudson has worked in dance for the last 30 years and is currently Head of Movement at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She makes performance and Screendance works that have been shown in the UK and internationally, and is a certified teacher of Skinner Releasing Technique.Polly’s work focuses on process within artistic making, ethical approaches to teaching and interaction, and is informed by the slow movement, ecology and gardening.

Rene Crouch is a writer, singer and performer. She collaborates with other writers and artists and is currently working on a mixed media exhibition planned for October 2021 in East Cornwall. Her work often touches on the voice both in literal and symbolic ways and she works with others who struggle to find or express their voice fully.

Helen Battelley our host & presenter is an internationally renowned consultant, trainer, author and speaker in physical activity/movement in education. Her delivery style is energetic, passionate and highly motivational. She has been working as a dance and movement specialist for over 19 years and is respected globally for her valued contribution to raising the profile of physical activity and movement provision.

Theatre of the Self is funded by Cultivator & Arts Council England.