November 2004 Press Release: Mad Chicks Take Flight
CLICK HERE to return to main page

For more information please email us

PRESS RELEASE
Immediate Release 3/11/04

MAD CHICKS TAKE FLIGHT...

MAD CHICKS LAUNCH: Saturday November 27th 2004

MAD CHICKS, the girly section of Mad Pride, is about women psychiatric patients and survivors of the psychiatric system, who are sick of being treated like crap and generally sidelined. MAD CHICKS believes that a women-focussed organisation and campaign can highlight issues with particular female resonance, such as mixed wards, childcare, assertiveness and rights, sexism in the NHS. We believe the female service user voice has been overlooked as a positive force, and seek to redress this by developing a supportive environment for women at risk of social exclusion to express ideas creatively.

Hearing voices?
MAD CHICKS gives a voice to those who are not listened to, or have had their voices taken away - a theft perpetuated in the much-hated new Mental Health Bill, which further demonises an already alienated section of society. MAD CHICKS gives that voice back with a scream. We say listen to the voices you're hearing, don't take these voices away with forced drugs.

We're launching MAD CHICKS in London, on Saturday November 27th 2004, 1-11pm at The Union Chapel, Highbury, North London.

Day Events ( 1- 6pm) are for women and girls only. Doors open 12.45pm. Entry is free, donations sought.

• Info fair, with stalls from local & national women's mental health, mad politics & arts organisations
• Workshops in Creative Subversion (Sarah Tonin & Dolly Sen); Voice (Maggie Nicols); Writing (Isha from Survivor's Poetry); Digital Photography (Kate Forrest); Drama (Tash Alexander)
• Panel debate and discussion of women's issues in mental health, with invited speakers, including radical academic Lynne Segal, the London Disability Arts Forum and open floor.
• Art & Video screenings by mad women artists
• Cafe & relaxation / massage room
• Creche

Evening Gig (7 - 11pm) is for all genders. Doors open 6.30pm. Entry £5

The line-up includes:

• Gina Birch & Ana da Silva - Musicians who formed subtle, difficult, inspirational & ground-breaking all-female punk band The Raincoats will both be playing solo sets.
• Maggie Nicols - Outstanding jazz performer in the European improvisation scene, notorious for her 'impossible vocal fireworks' (WRPM 1999).
• Gertrude - Young all-female post-punk band whose sophisticated, agitated music 'whips up an addictive art-rock concoction' (Musician 2004).

Plus over 10 other outstanding and subversive acts enough to make you question your sanity and then reject it!

Venue: The Union Chapel, Compton Ave, London N1 2XD. Wheelchair accesssible. Nearest tube & train: Highbury & Islington. Buses: 4, 19, 30, 43, 271, 272, 277, 279.

This many mad women together can only change the world… or at least have the best fun in London.

ENDS

For more details:
Dolly Sen, Mad Chick and Author of acclaimed mad memoir 'The World is Full of Laughter', is available for information and interviews on 07906 936 365. Or contact Debbie McNamara, founder member of Mad Pride, on 07939 521659

Email: madchicks@hotmail.com Website: www.geocities.com/mad_chicks_uk
Write: Mad Chicks, c/o Esther Leslie, School of English and Humanities, Birkbeck, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX.