ALEX - an interactive dance-on-screen

Alex is at their first counselling session. Will their mind let them stay? A new, interactive dance-on-screen for young people (14-25) exploring the impact of our inner voice on our self-confidence.

“a welcome conversation on anxiety through dance.” Voice Mag
"an emotional rollercoaster that is gripping from start to finish" Fringe Review

Using dance, text, poetry and film, the work shares an interweaving narrative of three characters called Alex as they figure out how to keep their head above water. An original story created from autobiographical experiences and research with young people. The work acts as a tool to open conversation about mental health.

ALEX - The Film has a specially designed website for online screenings. Audience members are prompted to respond to the characters during the film, and when watching on the website a comment box pops up for audiences to write their advice. This is collated into a legacy page at the end of the film that audiences can visit for uplifting thoughts and advice. At a live screening, this interaction could be done by audiences having a piece of paper that they write their advice on and then stick on a board in the room or use to begin a conversation about mental health.

​For schools, the film is offered with a 2hr (2 x sessions) lesson plan and worksheet for students to manually fill out, prompting them to think and talk about their mental health and that of others.

The work was previously a stage production, but created into a film to make it more widely accessible.

The work's development has been supported by Arts Council England three times, and has toured to over 10 venues including The Patrick Centre, Birmingham International Dance Festival, Brighton Festival, Greenwich and Lewisham Young People's Theatre, Blue Elephant Theatre, plus schools and hospitals.

Supported by Arts Council England & Swindon Dance, and previously supported by Dancexchange, Arts for Health, Rural Media Company & Channel 4 Random Acts.