Sofie Hagen: World Mental Health Day

As the ancient saying goes, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

I first met comedian Sofie Hagen in late November last year when she played a gig in Liverpool https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2251093630418684166 In my Blip journal that day, I said “I had a brief chat with Sofie after the show about a couple of ideas... we'll see if they come to anything!”

Then, in March, I met the Artistic Director of the Unity theatre, Matthew Linley https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2288780665241469594 and mentioned that I was excited about the possibilities of collaboration in the months ahead.

Well, I’m thrilled to bits to say that, following our initial chat, Sofie very kindly agreed to become a patron of Liverpool Mental Health Festival 2017, and everyone somehow arranged that the Liverpool date in Sofie’s current ‘Dead Baby Frog’ tour would be today, World Mental Health Day, at the Unity theatre.

It couldn’t have worked out any more perfectly! (The only fly in the ointment was that poor Sofie, and her lovely support act, Bisha K Ali (see Extras) got stuck in a nightmare jam on the motorway and took 9 hours to travel up from London!)

Sofie has long spoken out about mental health issues in general, and her own mental health in particular. In fact, her weekly podcast ‘Made of Human’ www.madeofhumanpodcast.com/episodes/ sees her discuss it - and much, much more! - with a range of fascinating guests. I’m quite the fan!

Her current show deals with emotional abuse and the impact it has on being unable to express one’s own emotions, including anger. It has plenty of heavy moments but also lots and lots of laughter, and Sofie is a great story-teller with an ability to keep the audience gripped and hanging on her every word - even spontaneously singing in unison at one point, which went down very well with Sofie!

Huge thanks to Sofie for all her support, for being the human she is, and for a superb show!

Lots of World Mental Health Day love to everyone. It’s so important that we keep talking about how we’re feeling, keep asking for help when we need it, keep challenging stigma, keep supporting each other and keep looking after ourselves.

I know I’ve linked to the 10,000 Maniacs song ‘Trouble Me’ before, but today seems like a good time to give it another listen... www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXnDGEM2oOg