What He Said – A collection of short plays exploring male mental health is back for one night only on 19th November 2022 in celebration of International Men’s Day.

This November, the second show from Pique Niche Productions is returning to The Theatre at the Casa, Hope Street, Liverpool. What He Said showcases four plays from Northwest based writers. Each play explores mental health from a male perspective including the severe illnesses and death of loved ones, custody issues and the sense of belonging following the end of a romantic relationship, and political turmoil.

The aim of What He Said is to raise awareness of issues affecting men in today’s society and these are four stories representing different aspects of that experience, to appreciate that gender exists on a spectrum and definitions of men and the male experience vary.  

This November edition of the show will also feature a preview of What She Said, the companion show exploring mental health from a female perspective. The company is currently open for submissions of scripts to be considered for What She Said on an open call basis with no deadline currently fixed.  

Pique Niche Productions is a Liverpool based theatre company supporting new writing from the North of England, particularly writing exploring themes around disability and mental health. Pique Niche’s Artistic Director, Donna M Day explains “What He Said came about after I was asked to direct Ian Gray’s Twister for another Company. Unfortunately, at the time the Company were unable to fully cast the piece which meant it was withdrawn from their showcase. Gray’s unique look at the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder affecting soldiers and the ordinary people touched by war made me want to explore the male experience of mental health further. The play was of course written before the current war in Ukraine, which has reinforced my belief that these issues need to be reflected on more than ever.  

Regarding the November the shows she continues “International Men’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on male health, both physical and mental, and I believe that these plays give people an opportunity to consider how gender and expectations around it impact us in society. Younger, the piece being previewed for What She Said also features some exploration of how male health can affect the women in their lives. I believe this reflects well on the themes explored in Ste Mc’s Pillow Talk which explores how the health of women can affect their male loved ones.” 

The performance is Saturday 19th November at The Theatre at the Casa, Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP.  

Tickets are available now (£8-10): https://piqueniche-what-he-said-nov.eventbrite.com  

£1 from every ticket sold for the July show was donated to the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) (reg charity no 1110621) and we raised an incredible £243 to help them continue their lifesaving work. For the November show we will be donating £1 from every ticket sold to Prostate Cancer UK (reg charity no 1005541).  

The Five Plays are…

Both Parents Matter  
Written by Mark Davoren and directed by PJ Murray 
Four fathers come together at a support group as they discuss the ups and downs of custody battles and being a father after the end of their relationship with their children’s mothers. All four are desperate to have a relationship with their children, but new romances, old wounds and misunderstandings all make this difficult. 

Twister  
Written by Ian Gray and directed by PJ Murray 
War is hell and the devastation is wreaks on the people left behind is even worse. De Lesseps is a university lab technician and is blindsided when he is taken in for questioning by two soldiers. What could they want from a man who has already been through so much? 

Now or Never 
Written by Donna M Day and directed by PJ Murray 
Two lifelong friends, Pete and Martin, meet in a pub where they are catching up over a pint. Martin’s son, Christopher, is in on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and the rest of his life is falling apart around him. Advice from an old and loyal friend might be just what the doctor ordered.  

Pillow Talk 
Written by Ste Mc and directed by PJ Murray 
This monologue is an honest and captivating account of the role of men and mental health in today’s world. Considering the role of genetic predispositions to disordered moods and the impact they can have on family relationships; this is an insight into the a world that men don’t usually talk about.  

Younger

Written and directed by Donna M Day

 This monologue reflects on the things that could and should have been done when we were younger. Looking at how one clumsy remark can alter a family dynamic forever; this is an important reminder that we all do things we’re not proud of.