The Courtyard Playhouse is marking World Mental Health Awareness Month by inviting adults to discover how acting and improvisation can help quiet the inner critic, release stress, and reconnect with joy.
For many, theatre offers more than performance — it’s a way to feel human again. As workshop participant Solène Anglaret puts it:
“Improv isn’t just about making people laugh — though of course, it can be! Over the past couple of years at the Courtyard Playhouse, it has helped me reconnect with my creativity, let go of perfectionism, be fully present, express my emotions, and build connections. What I didn’t expect was how valuable these lessons would be in supporting my mental health recovery journey.”
Her words echo a growing body of research linking theatre and improv to improved mental wellbeing. A 2022 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that regular improvisation sessions reduced social anxiety and boosted mood regulation. Another review of 30 controlled studies concluded that “drama-based therapies can improve a range of mental health outcomes, with particular benefits for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
“We see this every week,” says a co-founder Tiffany Schultz. “People come to class nervous or self-conscious, and by the end they’re laughing, connected, and lighter. Acting and improv aren’t just about performing — they’re about presence, empathy, and learning to let go.”
Quieting the Noise
Modern life can feel like a constant audition — full of pressure to perform, compete, and perfect. Theatre flips that script. It offers a space where mistakes are celebrated, self-judgment softens, and connection replaces comparison.
Research at University College London shows that group creative activity increases oxytocin (the bonding hormone) and reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), leading to measurable decreases in loneliness and stress.
October Workshops at The Courtyard Playhouse
In the spirit of World Mental Health Awareness Month, The Courtyard Playhouse invites adults of all experience levels to join one of its upcoming October workshops designed to support creativity, confidence, and connection through play:
Don’t Panic!
Beginner Improv Workshop for Adults
•Start Date: From 18 October 2025
•Duration: 6 weeks
•Multiple class day options available
Learn to think on your feet, listen deeply, and say “Yes, And.” This fun, welcoming workshop builds presence, resilience, and spontaneity — and is proven to help you get out of your head and into the moment.
Desert Monologues
Scripted Acting Workshop for Adults
•Start Date: 26 October 2025
•Duration: 6 weeks
A creative and supportive introduction to acting for the stage. Participants explore character, storytelling, and emotional expression while discovering the confidence and catharsis that come from performance.
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Bookings and details are available at https://courtyardplayhouse.com/events/category/workshops/adults-workshops/6-week-courses/
“Drama isn’t a replacement for therapy,” the spokesperson adds, “but it’s a beautiful companion to it. It’s a chance to stop performing perfection, and simply show up as yourself.”
Join the Movement
In honour of World Mental Health Awareness Month, The Courtyard Playhouse invites anyone curious about acting or improv to take a step towards a more grounded, joyful, and connected self.
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All workshops take place at our beautiful working theatre the Courtyard Playhouse, set inside the creative oasis in AL Quoz, The Courtyard.
