Declaration

Award-winning autobiographical one-woman show exploring ADHD, mental health and diagnosis

About Declaration

Declaration was built on Art with Heart’s co-founder, Sarah Emmott’s personal experience of Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder (ADHD). It was created in the form of a one-woman play set in the round, intense, full of comedy as well as heart-stopping moments of pain and conflict.

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.

Sarah grew up feeling different. Her childhood doctor thought it was sugar. Her current doctor thinks its ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). Sarah still feels different, so what will a label do? Will it change the way you see her and the way she sees herself?

With autobiographical storytelling, comedy, and conversations with audiences, Declaration is a vibrant and daring adventure of school day survival tactics, super-hero alter-egos and the stumbling blocks to self-acceptance.

Developed in consultation with medical professionals and mental health support groups, Declaration examines the faces we wear to fit in and what happens when we dare to stand out.

“Insightful, bold and beautiful”

***** The Reviews Hub

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.

Sarah runs around the stage wearing a superhero cape and mask

Sarah is silhouetted in a dark studio theatre. She wears a green dress and is grimacing as her body contorts and her hand is on her neck.

Sarah hugging an audience member in a performance of Declaration

Sarah stands onstage looking shocked. Behind her is a projection that describes the impact ADHD may have on an individual. The audience are behind Sarah, watching.

Sarah stands onstage under a blue light. On the floor next to her, there is a big red button and a beach ball. There are audience members sitting all around the stage.

In a darkened studio theatre, a cartoon-like illustration of the human brain is projected on the wall. Sarah is walking in front of the audience, who watch her.

Inside a darkened studio theatre, Sarah sits amongst the audience as she performs.

Sarah is barefoot onstage in a studio theatre. She hands a small yellow bell to an audience member while the rest of the audience look on.

Participation

Alongside an impactful national tour, Declaration included ADHD awareness training, workshops for young people with ADHD, and a wellbeing room for audience members.

‘People turned up for Declaration who might never have seen anything else, because Art with Heart do more than entertain. They welcome people in, enlighten them and care for them in a way that is truly inspiring.’ – Eggs Collective.

Swipe right to explore more.

ADHD Awareness Training

Alongside our tour of Declaration we delivered free day-long ADHD Awareness training sessions in partnership with ADHD Foundation for those working with young people in education and youth settings. The training equipped participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively support the needs of children and young people with ADHD, covering classroom strategies, coping mechanisms, building resilience and nurturing constructive environments.

Wellbeing Room

Declaration toured with SPACE, a mobile wellbeing room which was available to access before, during and after the performance. SPACE was curated and hosted by mental health practitioner, Steph Walker; it was vital in helping to safeguard audiences, offering cups of tea, chat, wellbeing tips and activities and signposting to local initiatives and mental health support services.

‘In five years of thinking about the post-show offer to audiences, Declaration‘s well-being room is among the best I’ve encountered: a model of practical generosity’ – Maddy Costa, Exeunt

A large piece of flipchart paper has pink hearts and swirls drawn on it. In big letters it says ADHD is important and great.

The Squirrel Club Workshop

Squirrel Club was a creative workshop aimed at adults and young people with direct experience of living with ADHD. These workshops played a vital creative role in enabling participants to share their experiences with each other, celebrate difference, develop creative coping strategies, and build resilience and confidence.

A parent of a child who participated in a workshop sums up the value of this:

‘Josh went in hating ADHD and has come out saying he loves having it, how wonderful is that!’

ADHD Panel Discussion

At Stratford Circus we hosted a post show panel discussion with bloggers, campaigners and ADHD specialists about the themes of Declaration. Guest panelists were: Sarah Emmott (Co-creator and performer of Declaration), Jane Sedgwick (Mental health nursing Tutor at King’s College London and executive committee member of the UK Adult ADHD Network), Penny Jarrett (Youth leader, mentor, writer and blogger whose posts detail her experiences of ADHD) and Poppy Ellis Logan (Founder of Attention UK campaign, which raises awareness of the barriers and challenges facing people with ADHD in the UK).

“Declaration rises above the crowd. A towering performance by Emmott.”

Manchester Theatre Awards

“A level of empathy and understanding that smashes apart stereotypes and stigma.”

The Reviews Hub

“An extraordinary indication of the connections and dialogues theatre could help forge, if only it put real effort into looking after its audience.”

Maddy Costa, Exeunt

“A refreshingly honest story… better than any mental health textbook.”

North West End

“Insightful, bold and beautiful…the attention to detail is outstanding.”

The Reviews Hub

“Art with Heart are single-handedly widening our understanding of one of the most misunderstood mental health issues out there.’

Rory Bremner - Impressionist

“This is genuinely the only theatre performance that I have EVER enjoyed from start to finish in my entire life.”

Audience member

“I wanted to hold my breath, so I wouldn’t miss a single minute.”

Audience member

“An amazing, thought provoking, soul baring play. My 14-year-old ADHDer came away feeling not alone and able to achieve in life. I came away understanding more about how he feels.”

Audience member

Stream Declaration

You asked, we’ve made it happen!

Declaration is now available to stream online. We are asking that people make a one time contribution on a pay what you decide basis to access the video for a month.

Click here to find out how to stream Declaration

Case study

Read about audience reactions, highlights, and the positive social impact Declaration made during its run in our case study. A big thank you to Gerri Moriarty for writing the case study so well and Studio Baba for the design.

Click here to read the Declaration case study

With thanks to

Developed with The Lowry. 2018 tour in Association with the ADHD Foundation. 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.

2017 tour in Association with Oldham Library and the ADHD Foundation. Funded by Arts Council England. Supported by The Granada Foundation, NHS City Health Care Partnership Foundation, Fowler Smith & Jones Trust and Action Oldham.Early development supported by The Manchester Guardian Society Charitable Trust and Art with Heart Kickstarter Backers.