Mental health talk show pops-up in empty shop

Raph Adams has previously put on poetry nights in Woodbridge, having moved to Suffolk from London

A pop-up talk show staged in an empty town centre shop could become a monthly event.

The first programme was filmed inside the former Superdry unit in the Buttermarket shopping centre in Ipswich on Thursday, 30 January.

The show, called This is Scripted, is a collaboration between Scripted Development and This Is Ipswich.

Producer and host Raph Adams said: "The whole premise of it was to magnify men's mental health, something that I am fully engaged with."

Raph Adams (left) speaking to musician Native James, who is nominated for a Mobo award

An appeal for audience members was made on social media, with the recorded programme due to be broadcast on YouTube.

Guests on the pilot show included actor and comedian Omid Djalili, who has become a keen advocate of Ipswich's creative scene since moving to the town four years ago.

Also appearing was Kaine Stromberg, a transformational mindset mentor, and musician Native James, who is nominated for a Mobo award in the Best Alternative Music Act category, with the winners due to be announced at a ceremony in Newcastle upon Tyne on 18 February.

Adams explained his philosophy was "build it and they will come".

"And star power appeared and so we were like, 'wow, this is fantastic' and I loved the fact that they were very open in speaking about their mental journey," he said.

Audience member Glen Chisolm got a selfie with Kaine Stromberg and Omid Djalili

Sarah Tieck, from media company This Is Ipswich which makes videos on life in Ipswich, said she wanted to support work to help men deal with issues such as mental health and domestic violence.

"I have experienced first hand how important safe spaces for young men are," she said.

"I want to showcase spots in Ipswich where young men can feel heard and learn how to communicate."

Glen Chisholm, a former Labour councillor and Mayor of Ipswich, was in the audience and said: "I was really impressed with the event and it made excellent use of a space which was sitting empty.

"Great to see young local talent perform and be involved, and the conversations were very powerful, thought provoking and relevant."

Branded cue cards for the pop-up show