How boxing inspired a play about men's mental health
A new play titled 'The Corner Man' explores the mental health challenges faced by men when they lose the structure and identity provided by their careers, using boxing as a central metaphor.
Why it matters
The play addresses the universal struggle of identity transition and the importance of mental health support for men in high-discipline professions.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Ben Lonsdale BBC News NI BBC Ferris said he wanted to explore what happens when someone loses the structure that has defined much of their life For many athletes, years of training can provide a routine, a purpose and an identity - but what happens when it all stops?
That question is at the heart of a new play which explores men's mental health through the world of boxing.
The Corner Man follows a fighter forced to confront life outside the ring after spending years dedicated to the sport.
Through his story, the play explores losing a sense of purpose, the difficulty some men have talking about their mental health and the support they can find in each other.
Writer and producer Cathal J Ferris said the idea grew from his own experience of boxing and conversations with fighters.
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