Steve’s Blog April 2009

I guess it’s a kind of egotistical thing to do but, being a sad ol’ git, I’ve recently discovered that there are thousands of Steve Walter impersonators all around the world from a Global HR Transformation Executive, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, even an entry on a movie database. At one time ‘Steve Walter’ was enough to come up with one of my poems at the top of the hit list. No longer. Now I have to enter “Steve Walter UK poems” to have any hope of anyone finding something relating to my work.

My search was prompted by looking for a copy of an article on mental health and rehabilitation, the first I ever wrote, in which I owned up to my illness and which was first on the HSE’s website in 2002. I lost my copy when my laptop was stolen last month. The article has since been temporarily removed. For a moment I thought someone had been offended by my book, Fast Train Approaching… and complained, but my paranoia has been allayed.

I wonder, what kind of impression will our show, An Acute Psychotic Episode (II) make on Google - how high it will rank among thousands at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? The prospect of performing to an empty theatre is intimidating.

But one thing that keeps me going is the kindness of the audience, following the show in Brighton last year. These are a few quotes (recorded in a notebook titled ‘notes from the couch’) from what some of the audience wrote after the performance:

“Loved it – sensitive – simple, beautiful, emotional – thanks so much for bringing your show to us”

“Brilliant – thank you & good luck for your future performances – great message, keep spreading the word!”

“I am rarely moved enough to leave words in a comments book. However, your performance was so moving and clear that I cannot go without saying thank you. Wonderful stuff”

“Thank you” x

“Well done! That was great…You are very perceptive of mental health and treatments! You are not alone!”

“Hey I’d like to say well done and I think you’re very brave and are a credit to all us mental health sufferers out there. I was in Ticehurst with schizoid personality disorder & psychosis so you’re definitely not alone”

“The performance was excellent and I found reassuring that people have the chance to hear such personal experience. Thank you for sharing.”

All truly very kind, unexpected and reassuring, but now I have something to live up to! If you can make the trip to Edinburgh do come along and say Hi! And share your Notes from the Couch.

For more info visit www.makingconnectionsmatter.org