‘Mad Pride’ – global mental health movement returns to Threshold Festival!
Liverpool Mental Health Consortium has teamed up with Threshold Festival for the second year to bring Mad Pride celebrations to Liverpool. Building on the success of the event in 2016, organisers are happy to confirm that Mad Pride will be more passionate and political – and even more fun – than in its inaugural year!
Mad Pride is a global mass movement of the users of mental health services, and their allies, seeking to reclaim terms such as “mad” and “nutter” from misuse. It aims to educate on potential causes of mental distress and the experiences of those who use mental health services; but most of all, it celebrates and stands in solidarity with those who experience some form of mental distress.
In Liverpool, Mad Pride will use community, creativity and collaboration to beat the drum about madness in all its forms! Taking place at Constellations on 2nd April, Mad Pride is a multi-arts event combining live music, pop-up performance, creative activities and a spoken word “Soap Box”, inspired by Poetry Slams and providing an opportunity to read your own writing to an audience. It will be fast-paced with readings under 5 minutes and everyone can enter on the day.
A fantastic line-up of live music beckons including riot jazz played by local brass band Hardcore Hornography, duo Live Kennedys performing their very own mix of fun, folk and protest songs and ferocious dark folk courtesy of Cadence Noir.
The action on- and off-stage will be dotted with weird and wonderful pop-up performances, and films will be shown all day. There will be opportunities to make your own mask, get a free massage and pet a dog in the Constellations garden.
Last on stage are drumming powerhouse Katumba, who will take the audience on a journey through the Baltic Triangle for the Mad Pride parade. Organisers have promised a huge spectacle with lanterns and torches, culminating in a performance by Liverpool’s own Bring the Fire Project.
Mad Pride is a free event starting at 2pm. Children and young people under 16 are welcome to take part all day if accompanied by a responsible adult. Please head over to the Mad Pride Facebook page for approximate performance times and frequent updates on the event.
Claire Stevens from Liverpool Mental Health Consortium said: “We are excited to be part of Threshold again and to be able to promote good mental health in the context of art and creativity. It’s all about bringing people together, having fun and using the arts platform to help break down stigma towards mental distress in a playful and creative way.”
Threshold Festival takes place on 31 Mar – 2 Apr, 2017 at various venues in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. The ‘Mad Pride’ event is FREE but advance discount tickets for the rest of the festival are available now via Skiddle.