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First Fortnight

@firstfortnight

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We are a charity that challenges mental health prejudice & stigma through arts & cultural action.
– Creative Therapy Service
– Festival
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What can you expect at the THEATRUM ANIMI European Symposium?

A day of creativity, connection and conversations exploring the relationship between theatre and mental health.

From live artistic moments and fresh perspectives from across Europe to opportunities to share your own ideas, there's plenty to experience.

Whether you are working in theatre or mental health, or simply curious about the connection between the two, we would love you to join us.

Swipe through for a taste of what's in store

📅 Thursday, 22 October 2026 | 9.30am – 5pm
📍 Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin

🎟️ Book your place through the link in our bio or at firstfortnight.ie

Co-funded by the European Union 🇪🇺

#TheatrumAnimi #TheatreCan #MentalHealth #TheatreAndMentalHealth #DublinEvents #creativeeurope

🇮🇹 ATER Foundation @aterfondazione
🇮🇹 Centro Diego Fabbri @centrodiegofabbri
🇮🇹 Arte e Salute @arte.salute
🇪🇸 L’Altre Festival @laltrefestival
🇮🇪 First Fortnight @firstfortnight
🇨🇿 Festival Mezi ploty @meziplotyofficial
🇷🇸 Plavo Theatre @plavotheatre
🇸🇪 Dejv iska Produktion @antistigmateater
🇫🇮 Taiteen Sulattamo ry @taiteensulattamo by @firstfortnight

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4 hours ago

We are delighted to welcome comedian, actor and broadcaster @pjgallagher to the THEATRUM ANIMI European Symposium in Dublin on 22 October!

PJ will join us for a special conversation exploring creativity, mental health and lived experience, and how sharing our stories can help open up new conversations around mental health.

And there's so much more to look forward to…

Join us for a day of live performance, thought-provoking discussions, creative moments and shared experiences, bringing together voices and perspectives from across Europe.

From exploring the power of theatre to challenge stigma and create connection, to discovering new ways of thinking about mental health, the day promises plenty of opportunities to listen, reflect, connect and take part.

Whether you are an artist, a mental health professional, someone with lived experience, or simply curious about the connection between creativity and mental health, we would love for you to join us.

📅 Thursday 22 October 2026
📍 Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
🎟️ Tickets €20 / €15

Come along, be part of the conversation and discover what theatre can make possible.

🔗 Book your place through the link in our bio or at firstfortnight.ie

🇪🇺 THEATRUM ANIMI is co-funded by the European Union.

#TheatrumAnimi #FirstFortnight #PJGallagher #TheatreAndMentalHealth #MentalHealth #livedexperience

🇮🇹 ATER Foundation @aterfondazione
🇮🇹 Centro Diego Fabbri @centrodiegofabbri
🇮🇹 Arte e Salute @arte.salute
🇪🇸 L’Altre Festival @laltrefestival
🇮🇪 First Fortnight @firstfortnight
🇨🇿 Festival Mezi ploty @meziplotyofficial
🇷🇸 Plavo Theatre @plavotheatre
🇸🇪 Dejv iska Produktion @antistigmateater
🇫🇮 Taiteen Sulattamo ry @taiteensulattamo by @firstfortnight

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2 days ago

Today is World Mental Health Day.

This year's theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” reminds us of the importance of listening to people with lived experience of mental health, valuing perspectives and ensuring voices are heard.

At First Fortnight, we believe in the power of the arts and culture to open conversations about mental health, challenge stigma and create space for connection, expression and understanding.

Through our annual Mental Health, Arts & Culture Festival, we bring together artists, audiences and communities to explore mental health through creativity, storytelling and shared experiences.

Beyond the Festival, our Creative Arts Therapy Services provide free, year-round therapeutic support to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, offering opportunities for expression, connection and healing through art, music and drama.

Our participation in @theatrum.animi a European collaboration exploring the relationship between theatre and mental health, builds on this commitment, creating opportunities for lived experiences to be shared, heard and understood across borders.

This World Mental Health Day, we arre celebrating the power of real voices to challenge perceptions, build understanding and inspire meaningful change.

Because every voice matters, and every story deserves to be heard.

#WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD2026 #FirstFortnight #LivedExperience #ArtsAndMentalHealth #THEATRUMANIMI by @firstfortnight

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5 days ago

Celebrating the impact of the HeadStart Fund!

This week, we were delighted to join Rethink Ireland, fellow awardees and funding partners to celebrate the incredible impact of the HeadStart Fund 2023–2026.

Over the past three years, this €3 million initiative has directly supported more than 33,000 young people across Ireland, helping to create opportunities for connection, understanding and better mental health.

As a proud HeadStart Fund awardee, First Fortnight was delighted to contribute to the celebration. Our Creative Arts Therapeutic Services Manager, Emily Iniekio, joined the panel discussion ‘Unconventional Spaces for Mental Health Support’, exploring different approaches to supporting mental health in our communities.

The event also featured a special performance by First Fortnight Festival co-curator, the brilliant poet and artist Stephen James Smith.

A huge thank you to Rethink Ireland, the Z Zurich Foundation and the HSE for their support, and to all the organisations making such a meaningful difference in young people's lives.

Here's to continuing this important work and building a future where young people's mental health is supported, understood and prioritised. 💛

#FirstFortnight #HeadStartFund #RethinkIreland #YouthMentalHealth #artsandmentalhealth

@rethinkireland @zurich_ireland HSE Ireland by @firstfortnight

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5 days ago

What can theatre do when we use it to open conversations around mental health?

On 22 October, Theatrum Animi brings artists, practitioners, communities, and European partners together in Dublin for a day of conversation, exchange and performance..

Together, we will explore the relationship between theatre and mental health.

Whether you work in the arts, mental health or community practice — or are simply curious about the role theatre can play in social change — we’d love you to join us.

🎭 Theatrum Animi European Symposium
📅 22 October 2026 | 9.30am to 5pm
📍 Smock Alley, Banquet Hall, Dublin

Book your place via the link in our bio or at firstfortnight.ie

THEATRUM ANIMI is a cooperation project co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union (Grant Agreement No. 101255376)

#FirstFortnight #TheatrumAnimi #MentalHealth #Theatre #Dublin #europeanunion

🇮🇹 ATER Foundation @aterfondazione
🇮🇹 Centro Diego Fabbri @centrodiegofabbri
🇮🇹 Arte e Salute @arte.salute
🇪🇸 L’Altre Festival @laltrefestival
🇮🇪 First Fortnight @firstfortnight
🇨🇿 Festival Mezi ploty @meziplotyofficial
🇷🇸 Plavo Theatre @plavotheatre
🇸🇪 Dejviska Produktion @antistigmateater
🇫🇮 Taiteen Sulattamo ry @taiteensulattamo by @firstfortnight

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7 days ago

Stories that challenge stigma. Voices that spark conversation.⁠
⁠
The First Fortnight Award celebrates a Fringe show that shines a light on mental health, with the winning show invited to perform at First Fortnight Festival in January 2027.⁠
⁠
🏆 And the award goes to Muster by Belema Art House⁠ by @firstfortnight

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24 days ago

Join us in Dublin on 22 October 2026 for the Theatrum Animi European Symposium — bringing together artists, practitioners and voices from across Europe for a day of performance, conversation and exchange exploring the relationship between theatre and mental health.

Hosted by First Fortnight at Smock Alley Theatre @smockalleytheatre , the Theatrum Animi European Symposium brings together artists, practitioners and perspectives from across Europe to explore how theatre can open conversations, challenge stigma and create new possibilities for connection.

Expect performances, panel discussions, shared learning and conversations with voices from Ireland and across Europe – More details to follow.

Date: Thursday 22 October 2026
Time: 9:30am–5pm
Venue: Banquet Hall, Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
Tickets: €20 / €15 (Concession) (including booking fee)

Learn More & Book your place: https://shorturl.at/prxvH
Book Early & Save 25% — Use Code TAPROMO25 at checkout

Theatrum Animi is a three-year Creative Europe collaboration bringing together nine organisations across seven European countries:

🇮🇹 ATER Fondazione — Italy @aterfondazione
🇷🇸 Plavo Pozorište – Pozorišna Laboratorija — Serbia @plavotheatre
🇪🇸 Associació Sociocultural L’Altre Festival — Spain@laltrefestival
🇮🇹 Centro Diego Fabbri — Italy @centrodiegofabbri
🇮🇪 First Fortnight — Ireland @firstfortnight
🇸🇪 Dejv iska Produktion AB @antistigmateater
🇨🇿 Festival Mezi ploty @meziplotyofficial
🇮🇹 Associazione Arte e Salute APS — Italy @arte.salute
🇫🇮 Taiteen Sulattamo ry — Finland@taiteensulattamo

Together, we are building a European platform for sharing knowledge and collaborative approaches to theatre and mental health.

Co-funded by the European Union through Creative Europe. Grant Agreement Number: 101255376 – Creative Europe Programme

#TheatrumAnimi #TheatreAndMentalHealth #CreativeEurope #FirstFortnight #MentalHealth #Theatre #ArtsAndCulture by @firstfortnight

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a month ago

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day.

The theme, Changing the Narrative on Suicide, is a reminder of the importance of how we speak – and listen – when it comes to suicide.

Changing the narrative means moving away from silence, stigma and judgement. It means creating space for honest conversations, listening without assumption, and recognising that talking about suicide can be difficult.

At First Fortnight, we have long believed in the value of creating spaces where difficult conversations can happen. The arts can help us approach experiences that are hard to articulate – giving us another way to express, understand and connect.
Changing the narrative is something we all have a part in.

We do not need to have the perfect words or all the answers. We can listen. We can make space. We can ask how someone is doing. We can talk about suicide with care, compassion and without judgement.

Today, we remember those who have died by suicide, those living with loss, and those who may be struggling.

And we keep the conversation open.

If you or someone you know needs support, information on urgent mental health help and support is available through the HSE:
https://www2.hse.ie/mental-health/services-support/get-urgent-help/

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay #ChangingTheNarrative by @firstfortnight

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a month ago

We’re incredibly proud of our CEO, Maria Fleming, who is featured in this lovely article about the Plurabelle Paddlers and their journey to the 2026 IBCPC Dragon Boat Festival in France. 💜🐉

Maria shares her breast cancer journey, the strength and friendship she found through paddling, and her passion for supporting others affected by cancer.

Today, Maria joins 4,500 breast cancer survivors from around the world to celebrate resilience, community, friendship and life after cancer.

We’re so proud of you, Maria! ❤️

Read the full article from the link in our bio!

#FirstFortnight #PlurabellePaddlers #IBCPC2026 by @firstfortnight

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2 months ago

Meet Brenda. If you have been to a First Fortnight event, she is the powerhouse behind the scenes keeping everything moving as our Artist Liaison and acting Head of Operations. But she is also an incredible artist who created the powerful commission ‘Notifications Off’ for our 2023 festival as part of @electronicsheep.

In this video, Brenda dives into why stepping away from the digital noise isn’t just a luxury - it is vital for our mental health. She shares how creative spaces give our brains the room they need to breathe, reset, and heal.

When was the last time you truly went ‘notifications off’ to connect with something creative? Let us know in the comments 👇

#firstfortnight #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #irishartist by @firstfortnight

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3 months ago

I was looking for something in my old videos the other day and came across this video from 2016 @firstfortnight festival in @workmansclub . Therapy Sessions is a night @firstfortnight put on with multiple musicians and poets performing a few songs / poems each to maybe 200 people? I had no idea who this guy was but was absolutely blown away by him so took out my phone to record this video. The only video I got from that night. This was three years before these songs were released on his first album. Mental now 10 years later he’s playing to over 50,000 people in the Aviva Stadium 👏 And so deserved.
Guwan @dermotkennedy 🔥

#dermotkennedy #pov #therapysessions by @firstfortnight

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3 months ago

We are looking for a passionate Creative Arts Therapist (Art, Music, or Drama) to join our dynamic therapeutic services team at First Fortnight.

📍 Location: Dublin (St. Joseph’s National School & Haven House)

⏱️ Hours: 2 days per week (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

🗓️ Closing Date: Monday 27 July

✉️ Enquiries: Reach out to Liz McMahon at liz@firstfortnight.ie

Head to the link in our bio to read the full job description and details on how to apply! 🔗

#JobVacancy #CreativeArtsTherapy #ArtTherapy #MusicTherapy #DublinJobs by @firstfortnight

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3 months ago