Funded and supported by Islington Giving’s Community Panel, Express for Success supports young adults (18–35) with mental health challenges to build confidence, make friends and learn essential life skills through a two-year drama programme. Delivered in collaboration with ‘Odd Eyes Theatre’, it’s a creative approach to breaking isolation and fostering self-expression.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we caught up with Mark Gillham, Chief Executive of Stuart Low Trust and the team to find out more about the project and it’s impact so far.

Could you tell us a bit about how the ‘Express for Success’ project came about, and what makes it unique?

The Stuart Low Trust (SLT) was founded over 20 years ago to offer a more accessible and inclusive way for young adults who are socially isolated and experiencing mental health issues to find a place of belonging and support.  The ‘Express for Success’ offers a unique opportunity for young adults aged 18-35 to build confidence, make friends and learn a toolkit of essential life skills through a drama programme to write original work and perform in public.

The number of young adults living alone in Islington is much higher than average, who are more at risk of social isolation. Young people’s diagnosed mental health problems have increased in Islington in recent years.  However, when a young person is 18 years old, they transition to adult services which can mean much reduced support and sometimes not suitable environments for young adults.  There is a shortage of mental health support for young adults aged 18-35 also in the voluntary and community sector in Islington.

The ‘Express for Success’ aims to fill some of this gap.

“The ‘Express for Success’ offers a unique opportunity for young adults aged 18-35 to build confidence, make friends and learn a toolkit of essential life skills through a drama programme to write original work and perform in public.”

How have participants have engaged with the sessions so far? Are there any stories or moments that stand out to you?

28 young adults have engaged with sessions so far.  Participants have taken part in taster workshops covering a range of drama performance skills such as vocal expression, movement, mime and creative writing.  A group of 12 participants have opted to continue with the programme after the taster workshops to write their own individual performance scripts and perform these as an ensemble, weaving their different styles and stories together to voice their collective and diverse experiences.

A special moment for the project was the first test of their newly scripted material to a live audience with staging in March 2025.  They each sat across the stage under in the dark under a light which they switched on, one at a time, taking the audience on a journey across the stage, to perform their work.  They talked about childhood memories, struggles with personal identify, mental health and loneliness.  It was a very authentic, powerful and gripping experience!  We are really looking forward to the completed works performed at the Cally Festival in July.

“A special moment for the project was the first test of their newly scripted material to a live audience with staging in March 2025. It was a very authentic, powerful and gripping experience!”

What kind of changes have you seen in participants since they joined the programme?

The group of participants have gelled and are really supportive of one another.  You could see how much they were encouraging each other on the night of the practice performance in March and how much each person has grown in confidence to perform in public after one term of the course.

“94% have self-reported feeling better able cope in their daily life and feel more positive about the future.”

The participants have fed back many ways that they are benefiting from participating in the programme:  new opportunities for self-exploration and self-expression, having fun and growing social connections/skills, learning how to listen, developing creativity, practicing drama skills, being challenged out of their comfort zone, developing confidence to be themselves, feeling better in themselves and being inspired and motivated.

All participants have self-reported in evaluation feedback that their mental health has improved through the programme.   94% have self-reported feeling better able cope in their daily life and feel more positive about the future.

In what ways has the collaboration with Odd Eyes Theatre helped shape or enhance the programme’s impact?

Odd Eyes Theatre specialises in developing the theatre-craft skills of local young people from Islington’s migrant communities.  They bring exceptional local expertise in creating engaging and original new drama for performance.  The Founder and Artistic Director of Odd Eyes Theatre Emilia Teglia and Assistant Producer Andreea Tudose facilitate the workshop sessions bringing over a decade of teaching expertise.   Participants have commented that as the workshops are being led by theatre professionals, teaching to a high standard, they feel taken more seriously and what they are creating.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is community. How does Express for Success help young people feel a sense of community, connection and belonging?

By collaborating through the Express for Success weekly workshops, challenging themselves to be out of their comfort zone and express authentically, the participants have bonded very quickly to form a cohesive group and community with the workshop leaders and volunteer helpers.

“Participants have commented that as the workshops are being led by theatre professionals, teaching to a high standard, they feel taken more seriously and what they are creating.”

Through creating and practicing a drama performance together, they developed a close rapport and strong ethos of mutual respect and support – the foundations of a sense of community and belonging.  All participants have self-reported in evaluation feedback that they’ve experienced positive connections with other participants.   Some participants have formed new friendships, which we expect will continue beyond the end of the programme.

What role do you think projects like this play in breaking down isolation and stigma around mental health, especially among young people?

The Express for Success project helps to breakdown the isolation and the stigma of mental health among young people by being a safe, inclusive and non-judgmental space where people are more able to be themselves, share experiences with people of their own age and find their own unique voice through creative writing and drama performance.  The project participants can challenge the stigma of mental health by expressing in public their personal struggles and journeys to a more hopeful place through engaging drama performances.  By SLT collaborating with Odd Eyes Theatre, we hope to combine mental health and theatre expertise in a way which is more inclusive and accessible – a different entry point to support than attending for example a mental health clinic or centre.

“By SLT collaborating with Odd Eyes Theatre, we hope to combine mental health and theatre expertise in a way which is more inclusive and accessible.”