User:Dollysen

I am interested in disability arts and mental health.

I am taking part in Disability Arts Online Editathon.

Dolly Sen (born October 23, 1970 in London) is a writer, film-maker and mental health and disability activist.

WRITING

Between 2002 and 2008 she has had 8 books published, including the highly-acclaimed ‘The World is Full of Laughter’ a memoir that deals with childhood abuse and her subsequent mental health difficulties. The book was published in 2002 by Chipmunka, a mental health publisher. Chipmunka has also published 3 more of her books. Her early poetry was published by Hole Books and in several anthologies.

PERFORMANCE

As a performer she has acted, poeticized, drummed, sang, played bass all over Europe and in places such as the Young Vic and Trafalgar Square. She was also featured on Channel Five’s ‘Mad about Poetry’.

CAMPAIGNING & ACTIVISM

Dolly Sen is currently one of the leading mental health activists in the UK. A member of Mad Pride, she was one of the founders of Mad Chicks , a movement for Women Service Users. She is also one of the founding members of Creative Routes, an award-winning arts organization, run by the mad for the mad.

She is celebrated within in the mental health and Disability movement for her humourous, innovative and provocative challenges to psychiatry and ‘normal’ society. She has stated on more than one occasion that ‘sanity is a boring disease’. Along these lines, she has done spoken word at City Hall, Oxford University, and has been featured on TV and radio over 20 times. Two of the radio interviews she participated in were short listed for a Mental Health Media Award in 2007.

FILMS

Dolly Sen is a writer/director who has made over 20 films. Most of her films deal with madness in an innovative way, and have been shown at the South London Gallery, Streatham Film Festival, Bonkersfest, Southwark TV Film Festival, Muses Cafe, Borderline Film Festival, Movie Monday, and the Liberty Festival.

2008

She was interviewed by Ruby Wax for BBC HEADROOM and featured in the Sunday Times. She is currently blogging for Disability Arts Online

WORKS

Books Eloquent Catatonia 2001 – Hole Books

The Oblivion Evangelist 2001 – Hole Books

The World is Full of Laughter 2002 - Chipmunka

Maenad Angel Poetics 2003 – Hole Books

The Book of Torn-up Suicide Notes 2003 – Hole Books

Eccentric Fish 2006 - Chipmunka

Am I Still Laughing? 2006 – Chipmunka

LINKS http://www.dollysen.com