To download TOUR PACK please click on the link: Impact Tour Pack
‘It was accident. Accident. The children they were playing outside.
Most people think it’s only soldiers who suffer from PTSD, not ordinary people. They’re wrong.
People like dogs, they feel sorry for them. The British public they like dogs. They do. They put more money in your pot if you’ve got a dog. I’ve seen ‘em. They stop and stroke them. They do. They stop. … You know if dogs don’t like someone. They speak to you. It’s in their eyes. They stop. And talk to me.
What happened. That day. When everything was still sparkling and living.
I think about it.
They say it only took 19 seconds.
19 seconds to kill six people.
19 seconds.
I think about it every single day.’
IMPACT (previously GLASGOW ’14) casts light on the ‘unseen’ illness of male mental health, sufferers of which mostly continue to lead outwardly normal lives. The show deals in particular with the ‘masculine’ habit of not talking about things, which has led to male mental health being ignored, with significant consequences. Based on a real life incident in Glasgow 2014, four fictitious men who were there on the day when many lives were changed forever. A crash of such proportions that it made national headlines, cannot help but affect the lives of all of those that witnessed it.
But what if your life was a difficult one before this event? Does such a public tragedy help you overcome your troubles? Or make them worse? Or, ultimately, make no change to it whatsoever? Neil Gwynne skilfully captures the minds and bodies of four men as they suffer with their own emotional and mental trauma in this one man show.
What happens to your mind when you witness an incident, big enough to make national headlines? This one man show explores the ‘unseen’ illness of male mental health through the eyes of four different male characters, as they cope with the aftershock of a traumatic event. Inspired by real life stories the play follows the lives of four men who have witnessed the event and are coping with it in their own ways.
IMPACT casts light on the ‘unseen’ illness of male mental health, sufferers of which mostly continue to lead outwardly normal lives. The show deals in particular with the ‘masculine’ habit of not talking about things, which has led to male mental health being ignored, with significant consequences. Whereas three out of four suicides (76%) are by men, and suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 35 (ONS), men have measurably lower access to the social support of friends, relatives and community (R. Boreham and D. Pevalin). “Despite the serious subject matter, the story is a hopeful one,”.
Playwright Sally Lewis weaves a compelling narrative to show the different faces of mental health. Theatrically simple yet powerful, these four men recant their own personal struggles with an illness that cannot be seen yet likely to be suffered by one in four of us.
Sally Lewis is a playwright and best – selling author.
Her plays include:
IMPACT
2019 London, Salisbury, Romsey
Glasgow ’14, 2018 (4 star reviews including The Scotsman).
HOW IS UNCLE JOHN
(Edinburgh 2016)
The Nuffield Theatre Southampton
FAM was longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize (2017)
PAPATANGO, New Writing Prize.(2017)
Sally has had several short plays performed in London, Salisbury and Southampton including
While I can, Rich Mix, (Descent Theatre)
Home Duty, Park Theatre.
She was a contributor to Danny Boyle’s Winter Shuffle.
Sally was a student at The Nuffield Theatre playwriting course led by John Burgess, ex head of new writing for the National Theatre,and Salisbury Playhouse/ Out of Joint Writers’ Academy led by Samantha Potter and Barney Norris.
Trained at ArtsEd London, his professional acting career started later in life. His credits include: Stage SCARAMOUCHE JONES, The ANGRY BRIGADE. Film, LACEY and Television WINGS OF WAR.
Benet has spent 20 years directing award winning theatre productions. He has directed numerous acclaimed revivals as well as many new plays.