A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM

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And we sat eloquently beside the Stratford River; a pre-stage buzz
hummed in the quintessential Shakespearean town.
The BME 'Satellite' user group warmed to each others company.

Basking in the early spring heat, some sipped a light beer whilst others
refreshed with a sweet Malibu and soft drinks.
Diversity, ethnicity and culture was having its finest hour as it was

about to interlock with the nostalgic folly; poetic genius and power of

the genius kind. 'Why Shakespeare?' we asked, and what emotional

resonance could it afford to a British- Indian sensibility?
'Power... Choice and experience. A re-enactment
of the human drive and its powers and limitations'

And as the conversation flowed regarding power, identity and a

sense of place and who we all were in the collapsing modern age; we

turned our attention to the moon that was hanging in the blue sky

like a lost pearl. We felt eclipsed in its presence, a mythic air of fantasy

and adventure was roaming amongst the pre -performance chatter

in the bustling beer garden of the ‘Dirty Duck’
Shakespeare was roaming! Like the suspended moon that was pulling

our emotions in a mythic charm of fantasy awaiting.
... And thus we entered the courtyard as a bewitching nocturnal light

ushered us inside like artisans of old.

…Excited chatter, illuminated faces; the crowds were embracing

themselves in a pre- euphoric trance; and we were guilty of this sinful

excitement. Shakespeare and diversity, welcome to a true sense of

modernity.


... The moon from the outside had wandered in as if by enchantment.

The stage sets were fantastical and the focus group along with the crowds

at large were gripped even before the show was unleashed…The lights soon

faded...The crowds began to murmur...And a trance like narcotic ambiance

prevailed.The show burst onto the stage, with venomous awe, with an

audacity of power, history and poetic grace... what one would expect

from a Shakespeare play.

The enchantment of the tale with its roots cleverly embedded in a mindset

of mythical fantasy and human love and tyranny enchanted and star struck

the audience; with a dynasty of dance and performance!

... And as the night ended, and the crowds drifted away in starlit wonder

of the residue that was sprinkled on the hundreds like fairy dust; we

wandered over the river, contemplating as a group how such things can

empower and transcend human experience.

The BME initial group event was a huge success. The group left the event
inspired, empowered and elevated to a new sense of understanding.

Various new projects were discussed with the group as it fruited

that a real critical understanding of culture and ethnicity was needed

across the services. Various members of the group were proposing to

write recovery stories in the context of a compilation

book that could then be distributed to stakeholders and practitioners;

allowing a qualitative and emotional perspective on how to engage

with BME communities.

It was felt that the current understanding of BME issues was dire;

the constant crossing of wires and misrepresented

information and poor judgement by practitioners was very problematic;

coupled with uninspiring interventions.Two book proposals were

‘The Lennon Tree’ and ‘Fairy Tales and Dreams’. I hope

(CDW) to work closely with the ‘Satellite’ group on these two initial projects.

It was hard to peel away from the enchanted energy and the provocation that

had been induced by the play; the group will be meeting very soon to initialise how

to take these projects further.

If anyone out their has any really important narratives, experiences,

or stories of recovery and being involved with the

mental health services; focusing on improving services for the ethnic

minority community then please do drop us a mail; if anyone wants more

information on how to join the ‘Satellite’ focus group then likewise, don’t

be afraid to get in touch by sending us a few comments. The BME diversity
team is here to listen, to help, and improve services regarding people’s

emotional well being!