You could always try ‘Laughing for a Change’…
Mrs Barbara Nice
Since May 2013 acclaimed theatre company Women & Theatre’s have been running two community comedy courses in Birmingham as part of their Time to Change project ‘Laughing for a Change’.
The courses are culminating in two comedy evenings where participants will perform the material they have created over 5 weeks.
The evening is an opportunity for participants to show off their newfound comedy skills, alongside a professional headline act, and hosted by Mrs Barbara Nice herself.
With a free buffet, this recession busting ‘Pay What You Can’ event is a chance for the public to enjoy some high-quality, locally rooted comedy.
Local celebrity Mrs Barbara Nice will host the event. Barbara is a keen promoter of the Number 50 Bus, saying ‘Hiya’ to your neighbours, and bargain hunting and is a star of the Edinburgh Festival and national comedy circuit.
‘Laughing for A Change’ is funded by Time to Change, which is England’s mental health anti-stigma programme run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and funded by the Department of Health and Comic Relief. The programme is distributing grants to local community-led projects as part of its drive to improve public attitudes and behaviour in relation to mental health.
Laughing for A Change, which is led by people with mental health problems, will use the grant to establish meaningful and open conversations with others in the local area. The aim is to bring people who don’t have mental health problems into social contact with those who do. Evidence suggests that this kind of contact is one of the most effective ways of breaking down stigma and discrimination.
‘Laughing for a Change’ is run by Birmingham’s Women and Theatre in partnership with Birmingham LGBT Trust, Black Country Touring and Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. Two courses have taken place in May – July and two further courses will take place in the Autumn.
Performances take place on:
Monday 8 July, The Wellington, 72 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7AH 7.30pm with headline act Craig Deeley
Wednesday 24 July, The British Oak, 1364 Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2XS, 7.30pm with headline act Steve Day