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Wednesday, 04 February
Artist Interview
Time To Talk Day
In recognition of Time To Talk Day, we sat down with Tim Marriott of Smokescreen Productions to discuss Jack’s Ashes - a powerful production that shines a light on mental health in the world of sport.
In our conversation, Tim shares the inspiration behind the show, the realities it reflects, and why creating space for honest conversations around mental wellbeing has never been more important. Jack’s Ashes doesn’t just tell a story; it opens a dialogue, challenging audiences to look beyond the scoreboard and consider the human experience at the heart of sport.
Find performances of Jack's Ashes here.
Jack’s Ashes uses a cricket team talk as its setting - why was sport such a powerful lens for exploring mental frailty?
Many of us face crises of confidence, self belief or loss of purpose in our lives but the world of professional sport is particularly exposed and vulnerable. The glare of public scrutiny, the whims of selection, and random moments of fortune or injury can all put unnaturally intense pressure on young people who may not have yet developed sufficient resilience to maintain their mental equilibrium. Furthermore, retirement can lead to reduced status, lower earnings, and lack of activity for any of us but can feel particularly acute when experienced in your thirties.
In Jack’s Ashes we use the framing device of a charity twenty over cricket game that old pro ‘Jack’ is taking far too seriously. This allows us a degree of humour as well as a narrative as the game progresses. In presenting ‘Jack’ as an older character we can reflect on many issues that confront not just professional sports people but all walks of life.
Why was humour important to you in telling a story about something as serious as mental health?
Humour is a very effective coping mechanism. In sharing our stories of the absurd and ridiculous turns of fate we can alleviate the internal pressure and isolation that some of us feel from time to time. Furthermore, as a writer, I always feel the responsibility to engage and entertain first and foremost and humour can be a great way to unlock and open conversations.
The show was developed with sports bodies and mental health charities - what did those conversations teach you about how we talk (or don’t talk) about mental fitness?
Talking with former professionals taught me a lot about locker room banter and how we often seek to protect ourselves by trivialising challenges. In sport, as in many other worlds, one can be defined by ‘grit’, ‘ticker’, ‘guts’ and seeking help can be seen as weak. I met players who said they had shared dressing rooms with ‘great mates’ for twenty years and never once had a personal conversation. There was always the pressure to be ‘tough enough’.
Nowadays there are schemes and mechanisms in place to support players during their playing careers and beyond, but this was not the case until relatively recently. And even then, the onus is on the individual to self identify and ask for help and that’s not easy to do.
Jack’s Ashes can be performed in any space including small rural venues, how does that intimacy change the way audiences engage with its mental health message?
Smaller performance venues allow me to make direct contact and interact with the audience. They become my ‘team’. And it’s harder to ignore me or drop off to a snooze if I’m right in front of you!
What kinds of conversations do you hope audiences have with each other after the show ends?
I really enjoy hearing other people’s stories post show. Often people come up with their own hysterical tales of sporting disasters. Self deprecating humour can also be a great way to unlock more serious chats and I am blessed that my wife, Annabel, who is an experienced counsellor and therapist, works with me and is always on hand to pick up more serious chats and guide and advise if necessary.
Has performing Jack’s Ashes changed the way you think about your own mental fitness?
Performing Jack has been somewhat therapeutic… It has helped me think more carefully about many of the things I do or habits I have and identify and articulate some of my own complex issues! And I truly live every show in a cathartic journey through a desperate run chase!
For more information on Time To Talk Day, click here.
Special thanks to Tim Marriot for this blog.
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