Mental Health Arts Network: Addiction Recovery through Theatre and Drama

Information

The Mental Health Arts Network is a year-round initiative by the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival to bring together a community of people making creative work about mental health. We are curating a series of gatherings - one every two months - each exploring a different topic or theme in partnership with guest experts, while also providing opportunities for people to meet and talk.

Our December 2025 gathering will begin with a presentation by Matt Steinberg, Artistic Director and CEO of Outside Edge Theatre Company (OETC), a leading London-based charity which uses theatre to help people recover from addiction. This will be followed by an informal conversation and networking session with Matt and other artists.

OETC uses holistic support for addiction recovery, providing the building blocks for this journey with specialist support, creative activities, social events, job opportunities, and volunteering. The company also performs its shows in venues across the UK. Matt will share the stories behind how OETC was formed and some of the people it has helped since 1999. 

You can find out more about OETC's work at outsideedge.org.