Last Friday (11th September), ME Association Associate Trustee, Nicki Strong, attended a private viewing event at the Royal Opera House for the I Would Be There If I Could arts project, featuring the iconic Mirrorbox.
What is the Mirrorbox Journey?
Created by artist Alison Larkman, The Mirrorbox Journey is part of I Would Be Here If I Could, a nationwide collaborative social artwork project/initiative shaped by people living with ME and Long Covid. Over the next year, The Mirrorbox will travel to seven locations chosen by people who would be there if they could.
The project began with a simple question: “Where would you be if you could?” People living with ME and Long Covid shared messages for places they love but can no longer physically reach — from major cultural landmarks and public spaces to coastlines and places bound up with everyday memories.
The Mirrorbox brings those messages back into the places from which their senders are absent.
How does the Mirrorbox work?
The Mirrorbox is an interactive sculpture made from two-way mirrored acrylic. When a visitor steps inside, they disappear from view. Inside, they hear an audio message from the person who chose that place — someone who would be there if they could.
The MEA Visit the Mirrorbox at the Royal Opera House
The first stop on this second leg of the Mirrorbox Journey was the Royal Opera House, from the 12-13th September. The ME Association were kindly invited to a private viewing and Trustee, Nicky Strong, was able to attend and was featured in a video the Royal Ballet and Opera created for the event (see above)
It's very moving to think this is a physical representation of people who are invisible, stuck at home, bedbound, housebound, wishing they can come out to places like this.
Nicki Strong, ME Association Associate Trustee
Where will the Mirrorbox visit next, and how can you get involved?
Come along and visit the Mirrorbox at it's future locations:
- Jubilee Square, Brighton — 17–18 October 2026
- Thornton Heath Leisure Centre, Croydon — 8–9 November 2026
- Tate Modern, London — 13–14 March 2027
- Whitby, North Yorkshire — 14–15 May 2027
- Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire — 16 May 2027
- Bingley Five Rise Locks, West Yorkshire — 12–13 June 2027
Every location has been chosen by someone living with ME or Long Covid as somewhere they would be if they could.
