The Angina Monologues

This was a very interesting product because it wasn't a PSB as such but it had elements of it. It was designed by 'The British Heart Foundation. The angina monologues was an event that was created to raise awareness of heart disease in women rather than men and it went about it in a totally different way to a usual PSB. The event was a show held in 'The Theatre Royal Haymarket'; and guested many famous women celebrities as well as paying members of the public. The event was presented by Victoria Wood who is a well respected female comic, she was joined by other famous comedians such as Jo Brand, Katie Brand, Jessica Hynes and Julia Davis.

The comics all played their part in raising awareness for heart disease in women, however they did this in a very unusual way. To raise awareness they used their ability to use their comic skill to get people to listen and more importantly consider their own heart whilst enjoying a night out. I think this would work very well on many women because they can take on board the information whilst enjoying the evening; I believe the information is more likely to be absorbed if you're enjoying yourself at the time the information is given. This format would have made the women fell very comfortable as it was a 'girls night out'; although there was men in the audience too, however there were no male comics at the event.

I'm not sure that this format would have been as effective on men as it would be women. I think this because the majority of men would have a great time at the event and laugh at the jokes and have an all round good time; however, in my opinion I don't think that many men would take on board the statistic and information to get them to consider themselves as at risk, in the same way I think women would. It may work for some men yes, but on a wide scale broadcast I don't think it would as effective as a method such as shock tactics.

I analysed this particular product because I felt it was necessary to consider both parties at risk and that is both male and female; both genders are at risk from heart disease and I felt that it was important to acknowledge this a multi-gender issue. I also learnt some very interesting statistics that allowed me to consider women as a large at risk group and that it's not just men that suffer from heart disease.
However, I have decided to remain focused on men as my primary audience in the PSB broadcast and my main reason for this is that I feel that many men won't address the situation and recognise symptoms in themselves the way many women would be able to do. It is also more prevalent in men that in women, though only just.

The event aired on christmas day on sky 1:
http://www.anginamonologues.co.uk/watch.html