In Two Minds is a new piece of ambitious and affecting theatre currently being developed by Joanne which looks at the realities of living with bipolar disorder and its effects on relationships. It is inspired and informed by Joanne’s lived experience of her own mother’s bipolar disorder and her mother is a collaborator on the project.
In Two Minds was originally commissioned by Belltable: Connect and is now being developed with the support of The Arts Council, The JP Mc Manus Benevolent Fund, Limerick City and County Council, The Community Foundation of Ireland and Fishamble’s New Play Clinic. A work in progress performance will take place in Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin on January 12th 2019 as part of First Fortnight, Ireland’s mental health arts festival.
Research Focus Groups
As part of her research, Joanne is conducting a series of focus groups for people who identify with symptoms or a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, as well as family members of people who identify with bipolar disorder, and invites anyone who would like to take part in any of these sessions to get in touch.
The focus groups will be a relaxed, informal opportunity to confidentially share and discuss your experiences of the condition with others who can relate. Joanne hopes it will also be an opportunity to inform the creative process as she heads into the next phase of development on the show. All contributions will be totally confidential.
These sessions are not intended to be a form of therapy. Participants will be provided with information about a range of relevant free and low cost services and supports that are currently available to those affected by bipolar disorder in the Limerick area.
Joanne will also be presenting some findings of her research at the annual winter conference of The National College of Psychiatrists and hopes that this will prove to be a valuable way to connect healthcare professionals with the realities of the lived experience of bipolar disorder for individuals and families in Ireland.
If you, or someone you know, would like to take part in one of these focus groups or if you have any questions, please get in touch with Joanne on info@joanneryan.ie.
If you cannot attend one of these groups but would like to be part of any future focus groups please also get in touch!
The next sessions are generously hosted by GROW at their Limerick centre at 33 Henry Street, on the following dates:
Session for anyone who has a close family member who identifies with symptoms or a diagnosis of bipolar disorder:
Tuesday 6th November 6pm-8pm
Sessions for anyone who identifies with symptoms or a diagnosis of bipolar disorder themselves:
Friday 9th November 6pm-8pm
Saturday 10th November 11am-1pm
For more information: http://joanneryan.ie/in-two-minds/