Mezi Ploty festival addresses mental illness stigmas

Over 140 singers, bands and theater ensembles are performing at the Mezi Ploty, or Between Fences, cultural festival at Prague's Bohnice psychiatric hospital this weekend.

Mezi Ploty is an annual open-air event held with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction. Over the past quarter of a century the festival has grown year by year and now attracts thousands of visitors.

This year's performers traditionally include Tomáš Klus, Lenka Dusilová and Vojtěch Dyk. Among the theatre ensembles taking part are actors from the Bolek Polívka Theatre, Theatre in Dlouhá street and Studio Ypsilon.