The local festival uniting music with mental health
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October is Mental Health Month and to mark the occasion, a special festival is using music to raise funds for a very important cause.
Highlighting the importance of talking about mental health and well-being, The Crossroads Festival is collaborating with Canberra’s award-winning inclusive theatre company to raise funds for their mental health programs across two music-filled days.
Taking place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 27 October, the annual event originally began as a solo concert by guitarist and composer Duncan N. Sargeant to combat the stigma surrounding mental health. Growing into a fully-fledged festival, this year, the collaboration with Rebus Theatre will see money go towards creating positive social change through theatre and other art.
Uniting music with mental health, Rebus Theatre Artistic Director Robin Davidson says it’s all in support of a good cause.
“Duncan N. Sargeant is an amazing musician and an extraordinary advocate for people who experience mental health challenges, and it’s a delight to be able to assist him,” he says.
“It’s also an opportunity for us to hopefully raise a small amount of money to put to our programs and to work with Duncan on continuing to challenge the stigma, preconceptions, and misinformation that people have about mental health challenges.”
Raising awareness for the work Rebus Theatre does, the funds raised from the festival will go towards the many programs they run. From creating original performances to delivering theatre-based workplace training, Robin says that the theatre works with people with lived experiences of marginalisation to create innovative, powerful performances in diverse contexts.
“All of the projects we do are in one way or another, related to the promotion of mental health,” he explains.
“We mostly work with marginalised communities, particularly with disabled artists, and give platforms for people to use theatre to share their stories, to connect with the wider community and to grow in confidence and wellbeing.”
Seeing a series of inspiring performances by local musicians with lived experience of mental ill-health, The Crossroads Festival is also about sparking conversations about the stigma that still surrounds mental health.
“I think we are, overall, moving in a positive direction in the conversations that we have,” says Robin.
“But I think the conversations still have further to go in terms of depth and recognising the variety of experiences that people have.”
On Saturday 19 October, Pulp Book Café will host an intimate evening with Salving Solos, seeing three talented singer-songwriters each share their personal journeys through music – including festival founder Duncan N. Sargeant, award-winning indie folk artist, Ben Drysdale, and singer Deb Morgan.
Then, on Sunday 27 October, festival-goers can go to the Gorman Arts Centre for Recital Remedies, an instrumental recital featuring some of Canberra’s finest talents: Alec Randles, Demetri Neidorf and Wayne Kelly, and Duncan n. Sargeant.
Playing everything from Celtic acoustic guitar melodies to jazz, as well as sharing individual stories and experiences between songs, Robin says it’s a unique way to support a crucial cause.
“This is a chance for people to get together, to have the mental health benefits of listening to great music, and to raise money for the programs that Rebus Theatre does to assist people.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: The Crossroads Festival
When: Saturday 19 October, 5 pm – 7 pm and Sunday 27 October, 2 pm – 4 pm
Where: 6/18 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls and 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon
Tickets + more information: rebustheatre.com
Feature image: Duncan N. Sargeant. Via eelworks.com.