Comedy gala to raise money for mental health services in Oxfordshire
Actress and comedian Jenny Eclair will be headlining at the Oxford Playhouse today
Oxfordshire Mind’s comedy gala returns today, aiming to raise money for local mental health services.
Hosted by Oxford’s independent comedy club, Jericho Comedy, the line up for the event includes Alex Farrow, Hasan Al Habib, Sara Barron - and headliners Jenny Eclair and Glenn Moore.
Speaking about the gala, Jenny Eclair said she is participating as the charity is close to the heart of her podcast co-host, Judith Holder.
Jenny also opened up about her own struggles with mental health in the past, even as a “confident woman,” and said that these issues often extend beyond the individual battling them.
“As a younger woman I had an eating disorder and I think that there’s effects on families as well when someone’s suffering – there’s a ripple effect when somebody’s in the centre of their own storm,” Jenny said.
She also highlighted that many people are currently suffering from the pressure of wanting to feel accepted.
“I think there’s an epidemic of anxiety. I think that young women, in particular, are beating themselves up and I think they’re so anxious to get it right all the time - is what they say correct, is what they’re wearing correct is their weight correct,” she said.
Jenny commented on the impact of humour on mental health, saying that making people laugh when they may really need it is “very much part of my job.”
She also pointed to feedback she has received from her shows, with people saying that it prompted them to have meaningful conversations with their siblings, and some of the comments from her podcast listeners.
“People say to us that ‘such and such happened to me and this is the first time I’ve laughed in a very long time’ and that feels to me like a job well done,” she said.
She gave a teaser about her set later today, which will include themes of menopause, siblings and being a nana.
Jenny also said: “There’ll be a tiny bit of audience participation but no more than putting a hand up.
“I really hate the idea of anybody feeling embarrassed – there’s no singling out of anybody”
She finally emphasised the importance of supporting mental health services as everyone has faced internal challenges.
“I think there isn’t anybody who hasn’t had some kind of mental health dilemma for whatever reason and however acute,” she said. “It’s a very worthy cause.”