Performing Anxiety: A resource for audience-facing arts projects about mental health

Performing Anxiety is a good practice resource for anyone who wants to make live artistic work about mental health, from autobiographical shows about anxiety and depression to participatory projects working with vulnerable people.

It draws on interviews with over 30 people – writers, performers, directors, producers and programmers – across the UK, many of whom have done pioneering work in this field in recent years.

It includes a good practice guide for autobiographical work and participatory projects, and things to consider if you are a producer or programmer.

As well as this document, Performing Anxiety is also available as a podcast, a series of full length interview transcripts, with accompanying audio, and an expanding set of guidelines, all of which you will find at www.mhfestival.com/performinganxiety

Performing Anxiety was created by the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival and the Mental Health Foundation, with funding from the Baring Foundation.

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