Boys Don’t Cry UK
February 2019
In collaboratin with Voice Box UK
Standing Men was a powerful performance and participatory workshop presented in collaboration with Voice Box Theatre. Featuring five performers, the exhibition invited audiences to confront the often-unspoken presence of male mental health struggles and the discomfort surrounding conversations about them. Upon entering the space, visitors encountered performers silently positioned against walls and in corners – embodying the quiet endurance and isolation that can accompany mental distress. Surrounding them, sheets of paper lined the walls with thought-provoking questions such as “What is your opinion of men?” which encouraged audience members to engage, reflect, and respond in real time. Through this interactive environment, Standing Men challenged the frameworks through which we approach and discuss sensitive social and emotional issues, transforming silence into shared dialogue.
Performers included: Edem Kelman, Edward Deney, Jewle Kaye, George Smith, Tjean.