Declaration
UK Tour: October – November 2018
After winning the ADHD Foundation Partnership Award in 2017, Art with Heart return with a brand new tour of Declaration, a comic and candid look at Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Developed in consultation with medical professionals and mental health support groups, Declaration challenges the stereotypes of mental health and gender in the 21st century.
Instinctive, curious, bold and bouncy, Sarah is a mighty proud square peg – which wouldn’t be such a problem if the hole wasn’t so damn round. Her childhood doctor thought it was sugar. Her current doctor thinks its ADHD. Sarah still feels different, so what will a label do? Declaration is a vibrant and daring adventure of school day survival tactics, super-hero alter-egos and the stumbling blocks to self-acceptance.
Filled with great tunes, dancing and humour, Declaration is an upbeat autobiographical piece about the challenges Sarah Emmott faced as she sought diagnosis in her 30s. ADHD Action reports that about 1.5 million adults in the UK have the condition but only 120,000 have been formally diagnosed. A complex, frustrating and isolating process, Sarah discovered that you often need to be living in the extremities of the condition to receive support.
With boys nearly 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, many girls go undiagnosed. Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) reported ‘the lack of appropriate identification and treatment of ADHD in women is a significant public health concern’. Declaration addresses social attitudes and gendered stereotypes, placing ADHD in women on the public agenda.
Director Rachel Moorhouse comments, They say that variety is the spice of life, until they can’t decipher what flavour you are. Then you’re a problem to be solved. Declaration is a celebration of difference, and asks how much society might grow if it made space for diversity and difference. Declaration challenges those who underestimate us square pegs and shares the joy of finding your tribe.
Declaration possesses the power to comfort, evoke joy and help people through a colourful,vibrant and inviting experience. The work of Art with Heart Theatre is a must see, the positive change they are making is incredible. (★★★★★ The Reviews Hub)
Declaration tours with SPACE, a mobile well-being room for audiences to take time to consider their personal well-being. Developed with The Lowry with the 2018 tour produced in association with the ADHD Foundation, a patient-led charity which are the leading provider of training on ADHD in the UK. Funded by Arts Council England and Sir Andrew Martin Trust. Supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority Culture and Social Impact Fund and Unity Theatre Trust. This project has been made possible by a grant from Postcode Community Trust, a grant giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery
Performance Dates
12th – 13th October Stratford Circus Arts Centre
Theatre Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BX
16th October Midlands Arts Centre
Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
18th October Princess Theatre and Arts Centre
Princess Street, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1EH
24th October The Met
Market Street, Bury, BL9 0BW
25th October York Theatre Royal
St Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
27th October The Pound
Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9HX
30th October Castle Theatre
Castle Way, Wellingborough, NN8 1XA
2nd November Attenborough Arts Centre
University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HA
7th November The Fisher Theatre
10 Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE
9th November Pegasus Theatre
Magdalen Road, Oxford, OX4 1RE
15th November Sheffield Theatres Studio
55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
17th November Derby Theatre
15 Theatre Walk, St Peter’s Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF
22nd November Arena Theatre
Wulfruna Street, Wolverhamptom, WV1 1LY