A BRADFORD man who knows more than most that “a leopard can change its spots” wants people to take a positive outlook from the Edinburgh Fringe play he is the subject of.

Robert Blowman, 48, of Wyke, spent years battling mental health problems and went from crime and drugs to tackling physical challenges and now acting.

The latest endeavour is “Break The Chains”, a theatre production by the Common People Theatre Company based on Mr Blowman's true story about overcoming life’s greatest hurdles.

It will be showcased in theSpace at Surgeons’ Hall for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023 and Mr Blowman will play a starring role, as himself.

Mr Blowman said: “The reason I wanted to do it really was, obviously it’s helping me turn all the negative things that have gone on in my life, a way of turning it into a positive.

He added: “I’m hoping people take something positive away from it and realise a leopard can change its spots and people can change their life round, no matter how bad life is.”

This is not Mr Blowman’s first acting gig though and the idea for this latest play first came about when he was part of the cast for “Doll” at the festival last year – produced by the same group.

That received four stars and Mr Blowman got talking with Katie Mahon, the artistic director at Common People Theatre Company.

He said: “They were fascinated by my story, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet, but I said yes.”

“Break The Chains” touches on Mr Blowman’s history of loss addiction and heartbreak and how this manifested itself into crippling anxiety.

Mr Blowan lost his brothers in a car crash - it was the 11th anniversary of their deaths on May 29.

“I was already suffering from addiction and mental health and it went downhill," he said.

But he hit a turning point and credits physical exercise as the “key” to his initial reset.

He has since channelled his energy into more positive avenues and has helped many others by co-running The Speak In Club – a mental health service running at two venues, the Rockwell Centre in Thorpe Edge and Buttershaw Youth Club.

Mr Blowman also has a large following on Facebook – 3,400 followers – and tries to inspire people sat at home to share their problems, because he feels that helps a lot.

He will be undertaking a number of challenges over the coming months to raise vital funds for the service he helps run, starting with walking back from Liverpool to Leeds along the canal tomorrow.

Then Mr Blowman will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks on June 10 and again on June 11 – owing to not wanting to let a friend down he had agreed to do the walk with – followed by Scafell Pike on June 24.

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