Big names offer support for mental health cause
The latest big name to back a play being staged in Newark is Alastair Campbell, who is best known for his role as former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s press secretary.
Mr Campbell is an ambassador for the Time To Change campaign, raising awareness about mental illness.
His support for The Death Of King John, written by Professor Peter Tyrer, a leading psychiatrist who lives in Hawton, has come about following the death of Mr Campbell’s brother, Donald, a former patient in the Millbrook Unit at King’s Mill Hospital.
He said Professor Tyrer had been among the more interesting people who contacted him after he had written about his brother who suffered from schizophrenia.
Mr Campbell acknowledged Professor Tyrer’s understanding of the importance of the arts as a means of promoting awareness of mental health and mental illness.
“I hope as many people as possible can see the inaugural performance of The Death Of King John at the Palace Theatre,” he has written in a blog.
Mr Campbell, an ambassador for Time To Change, a mental health charity, added: “One, it is a very good story and one can see parallels with politics today and down the ages; and two, it promotes the treatment called nidotherapy for people with chronic mental illness.”
Professor Tyrer set up Nidus-UK, a charity that helps with a form of mental health therapy, called nidotherapy, which he developed.
Proceeds from performances of the play will go to Nidus-UK, Mental Health Foundation, and The Listening Place, a charity recently set up in London extending the work of the Samaritans.
Support from Stephen Fry
Comedian and QI host Stephen Fry has already pledged his support.
It was hoped he would be available to play a part when The Death Of King John is staged at the Palace Theatre, Newark, on October 19.
Mr Fry has, however, contacted Professor Tyrer to say he will be unavailable.
“Unfortunately I have been called off to Los Angeles in October and so will not be able to come in person to The Death Of King John,” he said.
“I nonetheless hope that my rendering of the Declamation Of Newark will be heard clearly by all who come to the play.”
Mr Fry has recorded his lines as William Marshall, an Anglo-Norman soldier who served five English kings, including John.
The Rev David Milner, the Vicar of the United Benefice of Farndon, Hawton, Cotham and Thorpe, will take the role of William Marshall in silhouette while the lines, recorded by Fry, will be played.
A second performance will take place on October 21 at All Saints’ Church, Hawton.
Both performances start at 7.30pm.
A couple from Australia will be in the audience for the Hawton performance.
Ian and Fiona Stewart met Professor Tyrer and his wife, Helen, while holidaying in Antarctica in December when he told them about the play.
Fiona said: “We were fascinated.
“There we were, in this rather surreal world of snow and ice, hearing all about the death of an English king 800 years ago, which at the time seemed equally surreal.
“When we got back home we thought about it further and felt we had to come to the play as it is part of Australian, as well as English, history.”
King John died at Newark Castle on October 18, 1216.
Tickets are available from the Palace Theatre box office on 01636 655755 and by contacting Nidus-UK at www.nidotherapy.com
