‘Really beautiful. So amazed with the work you do and such captivating art and message. I’m a big believer in art therapy.’

Iona

 ‘Amazing work and so important that there is this kind of support in recovery, so powerful and the archetypes work is so relatable and inspiring to bring people home.’

Anon

Addiction Recovery Cornwall Launch Exhibition
at the Poly, Falmouth

 ‘Moved. Emotional, taken into the core of my being and connected to the interconnectedness of it all.’

CT

 ‘Brilliant concept and just so peaceful and informative, loved it all.’

Anon

 ‘As soon as I entered I felt a sense of peace and relief. I left feeling connected and grateful to be part of Rite to Freedom.’

Paul

 ‘Just a beautiful idea and ideology.’

Chelsea

 ‘Very powerful. Felt like we are a walking metaphor. It was a powerfully cathartic, unlocking process. Deeply affecting and interesting. Love this work so much, it speaks to me.  Deep gratitude.’

Anon

We asked visitors to describe their feelings about the exhibition in as few words as possible:

‘Calm and positively challenged.’

‘Exposed, raw, delighted.’

‘Feeling very calm, inspired, enlightened.’

‘Connected. Privileged.’

Creative Pathways Participant Quotes

 ‘I have seen growth and transformation in areas of my life such as journaling, meditation and mindfulness, creative writing and poetry and playing the guitar.’

Sion K – Participant May 2023

‘Powerful life-play for me - no real direction just an image and feeling. It turned out to be an inner working, it soothed me and lifted my spirit, emotionally I feel attached to it. I’m not usually a creative person so it is one of the very few pictures I have done in my life.’

Gary - Participant May 2023

 ‘Creativity whether writing, art, sculpting, photography or music has a power and release when it is in motion, that feeling is out of my head and into the world and can no longer destroy me. The journeying is ongoing, I feel the fizz of mischief and adventure with it.’

Ali – Participant May 2023

‘It was brilliant! Loved the mixed media, embodied pieces, laughter strewn skits and soul. Turning people away it was so popular!’

FW

Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter
Event Overview

Celebration Event – Phoenix Arts Centre Nov 22

Recovery Cabaret

The recovery Cabaret was an evening of refreshingly celebratory live work, devised by participants on Rite to Freedom’s Creative Pathways programme. Weaving comedy, spoken word, music and film into an unforgettable experience of raucous honesty. Taking a bold look at the light and the dark of life in recovery.

Those involved in the cabaret had spent time together on the Creative Pathways Residential, journeying through the devising process as well as incorporating four key archetypes; the Lover Creator, the Magician Healer; and the Sovereign Overseer as an internal compass for navigating the individual and collective journey of recovery. Charice Bhardwaj South West creator and maker staffed the residential alongside creative director Caspar Walsh and led on creating the performance.

This allowed staff members who would normally be holding space to join in the creative process in their own right which was really welcomed. The night was a huge success with all 48 tickets sold, even having to turn people away; 8 members of the community came along to support and 4 were involved in the creative process. It was such a new experience for most of the community, feeling the thrill and nerves of being in front of an audience for the first time, how would we be received? pushing through old narratives of not being enough.

A personal piece here, when I first came to Rite to Freedom in 2014, I found it hard to even speak in a small group, here I was in an Arts Centre that I love running on to a stage Infront of nearly 50 people. I had such a sense of pride in our collective achievement, we finished off the evening with a question-and-answer session about addiction, recovery and our work. Then danced – a lot.

Legacy –raising our profile in the community / growth of the participants A woman who saw our poster by chance came along to the event, she has joined us on our fortnightly Multi Addictions meetings since then stating she had found a community of people who she felt aligned with.

‘Tonight’s cabaret was so good really powerful and emotional and funny.’

Jo W