Theatre company brings festive cheer to the Bretton Centre

The Bretton Centre, run by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has been getting into the spirit of Christmas by inviting a local theatre company along to take part in a Christmas production.

The Low Secure Forensic Service based at the Bretton Centre, Fieldhead, Wakefield, has been working with Yew Tree Productions to put on a mix of festive fun.

The Bretton Centre is for men from Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield with severe mental health conditions who require care under low secure conditions. It is made up of four wards and provides an inpatient pathway from admission through to recovery.

Yew Tree is a theatre arts organisation which work with people to produce drama at the same time as building confidence and self esteem. They put on a special performance last year at Newton lodge, Wakefield, and it was such a success that they made a return visit to the Bretton Centre.

With the help of the theatre group staff and patients devised a performance that was performed at the unit on Friday 17th December. The work incorporated as many service users as possible and performances included rap, poetry and singing.

Lead clinician from the low secure service Claire Girvan, who helped organise the event, said, "The company have been coming in on a Friday for the last three weeks, working with staff and interested service users to put together the night. We achieved a real sense of unity and celebration at the centre. Everyone had a great time getting ready and it was a wonderful opportunity for people to enjoy themselves with some festive activities."

Art work that has been completed over the past few weeks by the service users was on display and a meal was prepared by the Bretton Centre’s Halal cooking group.