THE Stigma of mental illness is being de-bunked in a play for children.

Floods of Ink who was founded in 2013, specialise in creating theatre for children and young people and it is tackling this difficult issue in the play The Girl & The Giraffe.

This work has been created by the founders of Floods of Ink, Amber-Rose May and Laurence Alliston-Greiner who have both in one way or another been affected by mental illness.

Laurence is still battling with depression but feels he can now cope with by being able to talk about what he feels is ‘a secret illness’.

He said: “By doing this play it has made me be able to talk about depression.

"It has helped me feel more comfortable and I hope it will encourage others to do so.

"Ambers family has suffered from depression so I feel with this play we have been able to look at the subject through a sensitive lens.

"I feel we have been able to explore both sides of the issue.”

One day whilst Girl is playing in her garden, she spots something peculiar on the other side of the fence.

Climbing up as high as she can to get a better view, she is surprised when she comes face to face with…Giraffe.

Somerset County Gazette:

As their friendship grows, Girl discovers that Giraffe isn’t very well.

She tries everything she can to make him feel a bit better; putting on bandages, making a cup of tea, and even baking a truly magnificent cake, but she doesn’t get it quite right.

Girl soon realises the Giraffe doesn’t need a plaster for a graze on his arm or a scratch on his knee.

Sometimes we need a different kind of plaster for the things you can’t always see.

Laurence said: “When we had a feed back session about the play it was interesting is how well the children related to the giraffe.

"What we wanted to do was explain mental illness with over simplifying it and them getting the wrong message.

The Girl and The Giraffe is at the Tacchi- Morris Arts Centre on October 21.

Somerset County Gazette:

There will be two shows, one at 11am and then at 2pm. Tickets £9 / £7 Under 16’s / £26 Family of Four.

You can buy online at tacchi-morris.com or call 01823 414141.