Royal Marines to use Royal Albert Hall show to shine a spotlight on UK's mental health crisis

About 200 men and women from the Massed Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines will be leading the show at this year’s acclaimed Mountbatten Festival of Music.

The team has spent the past three days rehearsing non-stop at Southsea’s Pyramids Centre ahead of their opening performance at the globally-renowned venue on Friday.

And they will be using their sell-out three-day run to shine a light on Britain’s mental health epidemic.

Lieutenant Colonel Jase Burcham, the Royal Marines’ new principal director of music, described the crisis as ‘alarming’.

The 51-year-old from Portsmouth added: ‘This problem needs to be brought out into the open and into the rest of society.

‘It affects so many people, in so many different ways. It’s that unseen illness.

‘The statistics are alarming – it affects a far more significant number of people than anyone would expect.’

The decision follows news this week of a sudden surge in the number of Afghanistan veterans taking their own lives, with 14 killing themselves since the start of the year.

The Royal Marines played a critical part in the conflict and were involved in some of the bloodiest fighting in Afghanistan.

Lt Col Burcham said it was vital those within the forces had the support to talk about their mental health.

He added: ‘For us in this organisation, there’s the expectation that we would refuse to acknowledge anything like that because it would be seen as the wrong thing to do.

‘But actually this should be acknowledged and we need to provide that support to look after our people.’

As well as focusing on mental health, the show will also mark the 80th anniversary of the Commandos being set up and will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Warrant Officer 1 Si Tripp, one of the band’s most senior members, said it would be a huge moment for all the musicians.

He said: ‘Everyone looks forward to this. It’s a highlight for all of us. For a soloist, performing at the Royal Albert Hall is the pinnacle of their career.’

Lt Col Burcham, who took over the principal director role a week ago, added it would be the highlight of his 34-year service.

‘This is so exciting for me, it’s a career highlight,’ he said.

The festival concludes on Sunday.