First Fortnight have announced the 2016 festival line-up of mental health themed arts and cultural events, taking place across Dublin and selected venues nationwide during January. See Change is delighted to be a part of the festival once again along with our partners at Mental Health Reform, Mental Health Ireland and St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.
Now in its seventh year, First Fortnight 2016 will see live music, film, theatre, discussion and arts events staged to create open discussion and understanding of mental health problems, and challenge prejudice and discrimination.
This year, See Change and First Fortnight in association with Access Cinema are bringing conversation of mental health to the movies with nationwide screenings of Bill Pohlad’s movie Love and Mercy.
LOVE & MERCY presents an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Set against the era-defining catalog of Wilson’s music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost. Starring Paul Dano, John Cusack, Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks, Love & Mercy examines two key periods in Wilson’s life. In the 1960s, as the Beach Boys’ leader, Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece, Pet Sounds. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist Dr. Eugene Landy. Not to be missed.
**** – The Irish Times
**** – Irish Independent
**** “A heartfelt and eloquent tribute to one of pop’s greatest innovators” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“It’s a refreshing surprise to find LOVE & MERCY, a story about the pop icon Brian Wilson from two ends of his life, break the mold and even invigorate the form.” – LA Times
Book your tickets now for nationwide screenings:
Jan 11, 8.00pm ; Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire ¦ Box Office: (01) 2312929
Jan 11, 8.00pm ; Lime Tree Theatre, 69 O’ Connell Street, Limerick ¦ Box Office: (061)774774
Jan 11, 8.00pm ; Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray ¦ Box Office: (01)2724030
Jan 11, 8.00pm ; Town Hall Theatre, Galway ¦ Box Office: (091)569777
Jan 11, 8.00pm ; UCD Student Cinema, Belfield, Dublin 4: (01)7163810
Jan 11, 8.00pm ;Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise ¦ Box Office: (057)8663355
Jan 22, 8.00pm ; Riverbank Arts Centre, Kildare ¦ Box Office: (045)448327
NOTE: PLEASE SELECT RESPECTIVE VENUE TO BOOK
Launching the official festival programme on November 19th, First Fortnight co-founder and project manager JP Swaine said: “This is our most interesting and provocative line up for the festival to date and one which we hope leads to new and interesting reasons for people to talk about mental health.
“Conversations started by ordinary people are the only way we can change the stigma and discrimination that persists in the area of mental health.
“First Fortnight hopes to inspire these conversations through provocative arts events. We are also really delighted that, despite being entirely run by volunteers, we have been able to bring festival events to seven different counties across Ireland this year.”
First Fortnight 2016 will open in Christ Church Cathedral on New Year’s Day
Among the events taking place across Dublin and selected venues nationwide will include :
- Proclamation – a night of music and discussion as a host of well-known faces issue their proclamation for our collective wellbeing on New Year’s Day in Christ Church Cathedral.
- Ahead of the General Election, RTE broadcaster John Bowman chairs If Elected: Where do the political parties stand on mental health?
- Meet Willie Thorne – One of snooker’s best known players during the game’s heyday in the 1980s, Willie Thorne will bare his soul, talking openly about the dark days, his suicide bid and his inspirational recovery from the brink
- Love & Mercy tells the story of Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson and his success which came at extraordinary personal cost.
- Rory Culkin stars in Gabriel, a heartfelt portrait of a vulnerable teen at his psychological breaking point, struggling to keep it together in the wake of his father’s suicide.
- Kevin Nolan, Sean Millar, Gavin Glass & the songwriters of St Patrick’s Mental Health services present It Made You – collaborative songwriting project
- Award-winning plays Big Bobby. Little Bobby and Overshadowed look at our inner demons and eating disorders respectively.
The full line-up can be viewed at www.FirstFortnight.ie
