Men Through The Lens runs alongside dance-theatre show, Sunny Side, from 12-13 June

We are hosting a photography exhibition – Men Through The Lens – by East Leeds men living with a mental health condition.

The small but impactful display coincides with performances of renowned Yorkshire-based dance-theatre company Northern Rascals’ raw and emotional show Sunny Side. Developed using the real-life experience of more than 1,420 young people, the production seamlessly combines theatre, contemporary dance and spoken word.

Touring in partnership with Andy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide prevention charity, Sunny Side raises awareness of the often-overlooked mental health crisis affecting young people across the UK.

Men Through The Lens has been organised by Space2, an arts and social change organisation based at The Old Fire Station in Gipton, and funded by The Baring Foundation. Working with men from Seacroft Men’s Group, St Vincent’s Centre Wellmen Group and the Newsam Centre, they have used Photovoice techniques, which use photographs as catalysts for discussion.

Coralie Datta, Photovoice facilitator at Space2, said: “By using photography, we have really seen some of the men open up about emotionally painful experiences which they may have not been able to talk about before and they are able to process and hopefully heal by doing this.”

Lawrence Glyn, Men Through The Lens Project Manager, said: “Men have found real purpose and gone out of their normal routine to try to capture a particular shot – an early morning skyline, a regular hospital visit, a door from the past that holds special meaning. By taking these personal pictures, the men then share with others, often opening up about something that is unique, both light and serious. It’s a therapeutic exercise that helps them not only see photography as an artform, but also something they might benefit from beyond our sessions.”

The work echoes the themes of Sunny Side, which runs in the Courtyard Theatre at Leeds Playhouse from 12-13 June. It centres around K, a young man navigating adolescence in an unspecified Northern town. As he increasingly loses his sense of identity and emotional support in the once familiar but now ever-changing and uncertain world, K travels through the past, present and future in a bid to rebuild connections.

Four years in the making, this powerful show delves into the very real mental health epidemic in the UK. Real-life testimonies collected by Northern Rascals from more than 1,420 people aged 14-30 from across the UK have resulted in an authentic and informative production that highlights the company’s commitment to showcasing raw, honest and socially impactful work.

The Men Through The Lens exhibition is part of The Northern Man Festival 2025, running from 6-15 June.