Sarah holds a loud hailer and outstretches both her arms above her head. Her teeth are gritted, as she performs in front of an audience in a darkened studio theatre.

Declaration Autumn Tour Announcement

We’re super excited to be taking our Award-winning theatre project Declaration back on the road this Autumn.

Declaration UK Tour: October – November 2018

After winning the ADHD Foundation Partnership Award in 2017, Art with Heart return with a brand new tour of Declaration, a comic and candid look at Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Developed in consultation with medical professionals and mental health support groups, Declaration challenges the stereotypes of mental health and gender in the 21st century.

Instinctive, curious, bold and bouncy, Sarah is a mighty proud square peg – which wouldn’t be such a problem if the hole wasn’t so damn round. Her childhood doctor thought it was sugar. Her current doctor thinks its ADHD. Sarah still feels different, so what will a label do? Declaration is a vibrant and daring adventure of school day survival tactics, super-hero alter-egos and the stumbling blocks to self-acceptance.

Filled with great tunes, dancing and humour, Declaration is an upbeat autobiographical piece about the challenges Sarah Emmott faced as she sought diagnosis in her 30s. ADHD Action reports that about 1.5 million adults in the UK have the condition but only 120,000 have been formally diagnosed. A complex, frustrating and isolating process, Sarah discovered that you often need to be living in the extremities of the condition to receive support.

With boys nearly 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, many girls go undiagnosed. Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) reported ‘the lack of appropriate identification and treatment of ADHD in women is a significant public health concern’. Declaration addresses social attitudes and gendered stereotypes, placing ADHD in women on the public agenda.

Director Rachel Moorhouse comments, They say that variety is the spice of life, until they can’t decipher what flavour you are. Then you’re a problem to be solved.Declaration is a celebration of difference, and asks how much society might grow if it made space for diversity and difference. Declaration challenges those who underestimate us square pegs and shares the joy of finding your tribe.

Declaration possesses the power to comfort, evoke joy and help people through a colourful, vibrant and inviting experience. The work of Art with Heart Theatre is a must see, the positive change they are making is incredible. (★★★★★ The Reviews Hub)

Declaration tours with SPACE, a mobile well-being room for audiences to take time to consider their personal well-being. Developed with The Lowry with the 2018 tour produced in association with the ADHD Foundation, a patient-led charity which are the leading provider of training on ADHD in the UK. Funded by Arts Council England and Sir Andrew Martin Trust. Supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority Culture and Social Impact Fund and Unity Theatre Trust. This project has been made possible by a grant from Postcode Community Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Notes to Editors

Title: Declaration

Performance Dates: Tuesday 12th October – Thursday 22nd November 2018

Running Time: 70 minutes

Box Office Tickets are available from individual theatre box office. See www.artwithheart.org.uk

Twitter: @artwith_heart, #ADHDeclaration

Creators: Sarah Emmott and Rachel Moorhouse

Performer: Sarah Emmott

Director: Rachel Moorhouse

Movement Direction: Deb Pugh

Lighting Design: Aileen Ging

Costume Design: Christine Emmott

Sound Design: Karen Luke

Video Design: Luca Rudling

Mental Health Practitioner: Steph Walker

Sarah Emmott

Sarah Emmott began performing, writing and working on meaningful creative experiences since 2005, and founded Art with Heart in 2010. Her performance work spans theatre, TV, voiceover, and stand-up comedy. Her theatre credits include Belgrade Theatre Coventry, The Lowry and Manchester International Festival. Her TV credits include Small World, Fresh Meat and Lost in Austen. She has voiced various campaigns but her favourite was for the Smash Hits! Quiz DVD Game. She regularly performs internationally with street theatre company Plunge Boom and recently presented a special ADHD focused Click programme for BBC World. Sarah’s writing work includes Stan, Secret Diaries, Forever 27, The Speed of Dating, Stan and the co-creation of Declaration. Her work has won awards, received critical acclaim and features as an influential bisexual voice on the Purple List 2018.