BMJ Revives Medics Revue After 25 Years to Support Doctors in Distress Charity

The British Medical Journal is hosting a comedy revue on 15 May 2026 at London’s Shaw Theatre, with all proceeds benefiting mental health charity Doctors in Distress.

The British Medical Journal has announced it will revive its medics revue after a 25-year hiatus, with the comedy event scheduled for 15 May 2026 at 7pm at London’s Shaw Theatre. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Doctors in Distress, a charity dedicated to preventing suicide and supporting mental health among doctors and medical students.

The revival comes as medical professionals face mounting pressure within the NHS, with Doctors in Distress reporting over 300 doctor suicides in the UK since 2010, highlighting the scale of mental health challenges within the profession.

Comedy as Medicine

Dr Phil Hammond has reflected on comedy as therapy in associated BMJ content linked to the event announcement. The medics revue represents a traditional BMJ-organised comedy event for medical professionals that had been dormant for over two decades.

The revival suggests recognition within medical publishing circles that alternative approaches to supporting doctor wellbeing merit exploration alongside conventional mental health services.

Supporting Doctor Mental Health

Doctors in Distress focuses specifically on suicide prevention and mental health support for medical professionals. The charity’s work addresses what many consider a crisis within the medical profession, where high-stress environments and demanding workloads contribute to psychological distress.

The BMJ’s decision to donate all proceeds indicates the publication’s commitment to addressing these challenges through both awareness-raising and direct financial support for relevant charities.

Event Details

Tickets and further information are available through official BMJ channels. The Shaw Theatre venue provides a London location accessible to medical professionals from across the UK.

The timing aligns with ongoing discussions about NHS workforce wellbeing and the need for systemic changes to support medical staff mental health.

Key Takeaways

BMJ revives comedy revue after 25-year gap on 15 May 2026 at Shaw Theatre, London

All ticket proceeds will support Doctors in Distress charity’s suicide prevention work

Event highlights growing focus on alternative approaches to supporting medical professional wellbeing

What This Means for Kent Residents

Kent-based doctors and medical students can attend this London event, easily accessible via about one-hour train journeys from stations like Canterbury or Ashford to London St Pancras. The fundraising effort supports mental health resources that benefit NHS Kent and Medway doctors who face similar high-stress working conditions to colleagues nationwide. While no direct local events have been announced, Kent residents concerned about medical professional mental health can check with NHS Kent and Medway ICB for information about regional support services, or contact the Samaritans on 116 123 for immediate mental health support available 24/7.

Published: 24 April 2026

Source: @bmj_latest on X. This article has been researched and rewritten with editorial balance by Kent Local News.