An actor who hit rock bottom during a challenging time at university is taking on toxic masculinity at a city theatre this month.

Thom Bailey, 38, experienced emotions he had never felt before while at university in Hull due to severe harassment and bullying.

He said: “It had a very negative effect on my mental health which led to me experiencing a full breakdown.  

Norwich Evening News: Thom Bailey does a lot of work with Menscraft who work in men's suicide prevention Thom Bailey does a lot of work with Menscraft who work in men's suicide prevention (Image: Menscraft)

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“I was thrown into feeling suicidal and I really started to hide away from people as it felt like everyone was looking at me. 

“I didn’t seek help and I just tried to carry on, which I now know was detrimental – I think as a man it felt harder to talk.” 

Thom, who later earned a stage direction masters at the University of East Anglia, eventually found a way to move forward when he started working for Wellbeing Norfolk and Waveney and was sent to action-based therapy.  

Norwich Evening News: Thom is a trained actor and theatre director Thom is a trained actor and theatre director (Image: Thom Bailey)

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He said: “It was there that I got to learn that reenactment can help you to have those conversations that you wish you had."

Thom later joined Menscraft in Norwich, which focuses on suicide prevention for men through the arts and encourages men to speak out.  

Norwich Evening News: Thom says this play is a huge challenge for him Thom says this play is a huge challenge for him (Image: Josh Simpson)

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Thom will be showcasing what the process of working through men's mental health looks like in a play with the Man Alive theatre company at Norwich's Maddermarket Theatre.  

Three Kings by Stephen Beresford is a play about a character called Patrick whose absent father returns unexpectedly for a brief but memorable encounter when he was eight years old.

Years later – recalling that meeting, and the revelations that followed – Patrick traces the events of his father’s life, laying bare a journey of grandiose plans, aching disappointments and audacious self-delusion.  

Norwich Evening News: Three Kings follows the story of Patrick, at eight years old he meets his absent father and this puts him on a path Three Kings follows the story of Patrick, at eight years old he meets his absent father and this puts him on a path (Image: Man Alive)

Thom, who lives near Lowestoft now, said: “This is a huge challenge for me, it’s a one-man play, and it faces head-on lots of really strong emotions.” 

The show takes place at the Maddermarket on Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28 at 7.30pm.