A filmmaker is channelling his heartbreak from his own brother’s death following a drug overdose into a theatre production.
Writer and director Mark MacNicol’s sibling Jason, died from a heroin overdose 15 years ago, at the age of just 30.
Mark is running a drama therapy programme for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, with a script inspired by Jason’s death.
And participants in the Recovering Voices variety-style project will perform a live theatre production which seeks to inspire people to stay in treatment.
Mark said: “Jason’s death was a big factor in motivating me.
“I tried everything to get him on the right path and although I don’t blame myself the reality is I was unsuccessful.
“The purpose of the programme is to keep people in recovery and keep them alive.
“If there is one person helped as a result of this then there is a family out there who doesn’t have to go through what ours did.”
Scotland’s drugs minister Angela Constance has been invited to the production, called Recovering Voices, at Glasgow’s Oran Mor theatre on October 25.
It has been developed over the past six months with support from the Creative Change Collective’s delivery teams.
Mark said: “We’re not a traditional drama group as most of our participants have no interest in acting or writing. These sessions are designed to support people in recovery through drama therapy activities.”
The project has been funded for three years in Glasgow by the Scottish Government through the Corra Foundation.
Angela Constance said: “I am pleased to see first-hand the results of the excellent work being done by the Creative Change Collective to support people through their Recovering Voices drama therapy programme.
“The work recovery communities are involved in doing up and down the country gives us all hope for a way forward out of this crisis.
“The Creative Change Collective is an excellent example of an innovative approach and it is a pleasure to join them in celebrating this project with the people they help and their families and friends.
“We have invested £250 million into our National Mission which aims to ensure people have access to the treatment which works for them and I am determined every penny of that will make a difference.”
•Recovering Voices is at Oran Mor in Glasgow on Tuesday, October 25.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
