CALM ANNOUNCES FURTHER COLLABORATIONS WITHIN THE ARTS

CALM is delighted to announce further collaborations within the arts, with short film The Laughing King and hit play This Will End Badly releasing in January, plus support from Gloom Aid.

The Laughing King, starring Humans actor Colin Morgan, touches on the sensitive subject of male suicide, which accounts for 76% of all suicides in the UK and is the biggest single killer of men aged under 45. The 15 minute movie has been shortlisted in the London Short Film Festival, where it will screen for the first time on 12th January 2016 at 20:45, Hackney Picturehouse.

Directed by the award-winning Lindy Heymann, whose own story of personal loss to suicide led her to co-write the script, it was produced without financial assistance, with talent and crew dedicating their time in kind.

Humans and The Laughing King star, Colin Morgan, said:

"The instant I read The Laughing King I was magnetically and emotionally pulled into its immense beauty and tragic power, the journey of a man on the edge, a man who is perhaps on his final journey but ultimately finds hope and a reason to go on living. It reminded me of how difficult and precious life can be and I felt compelled to communicate Jake's journey and to understand a man who finds himself in the place he does. Working closely with Lindy Heymann throughout was a hugely rewarding process, we came together by chance and everything about this project from everyone involved comes directly from the heart and I feel that's reflected in every element of it. The end result is a film that takes a snapshot of a much bigger issue on a very human and personal level and I feel truly proud to have been a part of this special project."

Also in collaboration with CALM, following a critically acclaimed sell-out run at Pleasance Edinburgh this August, This Will End Badly transfers to Southwark Playhouse for its London premiere for four weeks from 12^th January. It stars Ben Whybrow (Punchdrunk’s The Drowned Man), whose performance is described as “heartrending, callous and funny by turns…as unsettling and brilliant a performance as you're likely to see this year.” (Fest magazine). 

To further raise awareness of the issues facing men, This Will End Badly will host post-show discussions with CALM and a panel of celebrity influencers, the first of which is to be held on 18^th January.

This Will End Badly Writer Rob Hayes said:

"I'm thrilled to be working in co-operation with CALM on a project that I've always seen as an attempt to understand what drives men to extreme and depressive behaviour. CALM's commitment to making male depression and suicide part of the national conversation is crucial not just for young men, but for society as a whole."

Last but not least, CALM is pleased to report that this year's Gloom Aid, a night of comedy held on ‘Blue Monday’, marked by some as the "gloomiest day of the year", is in support of CALM. The line up for the event, which will be held at 100 Club on Oxford Street on 18th January, so far includes the legendary Robert Newman, Horrible Histories favourite Adam Riches, Newsjack’s Nish Kumar and CALM Ambassador Dave Chawner.

CALM CEO, Jane Powell, said:

"The last couple of months at CALM have seen support from the public, celebrities and companies start to balloon. It feels as if we are finally making headway in our aim to ensure that everyone knows suicide is the biggest single killer of men in the UK, and that there is somewhere for guys to turn for help."