A Perth drama initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of life of forensic psychiatry patients has attracted glowing reviews

Apr 8 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A DRAMA initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of life of forensic psychiatry patients has attracted glowing reviews.

Tricky Hat Productions, in association with NHS Tayside forensic service and Perth and Kinross Council arts development service, hosted a performance of ‘The Dust Never Settles’ at the Norie Miller Studio in Perth Concert Hall.

It was the second joint production, coming hard on the heels of a highly successful ‘Blair Ghost Project’, featuring actors who were offenders with a history of mental health issues.

Karen Richard, consultant forensic psychiatrist at Murray Royal Hospital, said: “When someone suffers from mental illness they may become isolated and marginalised; they can live their life as if on a remote island.

“This is often doubly so for forensic psychiatry patients.

The ethos of Tricky Hat Productions is to give patients a voice through involvement in performance.

“As a clinician, it has become obvious to me that giving patients a voice is invaluable in the process of helping them to again be part of the mainstream.

“It allows them to be part of the process of recovery, offering a chance for people to improve their own circumstances and health, and, having done so, to maintain that improvement.

“None of this would have been possible without the vision and generosity of NHS Tayside Innovations Fund and Perth and Kinross Council arts development service.

“Most importantly, I wish to thank the patients who were involved in the performance of ‘The Dust Never Settles’.

She added: “Many more patients were involved in the creation of the performance and those who wanted to, performed it.

“The benefits of this work spread far beyond those who are involved.”