Mental health will be examined from a variety of angles and perspectives during a touring play called maladjusted.
Telling the stories of those living with mental health issues and the obstacles and challenges they live through, the audience will experience the play twice. The first time in its entirety and the second time with frequent stoppages as audience members weigh-in themselves at any point with feedback, suggestions and other commentary.
The production — being organized in part by School of Nursing students and faculty — is being staged March 14 in the Grand Hall of the Campus Activity Centre. See below for ticket information.
Referred to as forum theatre, the audience participation is meant to stimulate conversation and insight that that will be transcribed and later put towards recommendations to be made to local, regional, provincial, and national bodies.
“Live forum theatre allows people to have a voice in a safe environment and to engage in the dialogue of mental health,” said Nursing student Savanna Pavan, who is also among the organizers. “This environment helps to decrease the stigma and works to really get the dialogue going. We need to have conversations to make recommendations for change.”
Amanda Parker is another of the student organizers and believes the audience input — even from those on the periphery of mental illness — will be meaningful because, “these are real-life situations being played out for people to relate to. It will be difficult not feel a part of what’s going on.”
In recent years mental illness has received growing media and public attention, but stigma and misconceptions persist, leading many out of fear of repercussions, to remain silent at the workplace and in their personal lives about their condition.
Danika Maartman is hopeful the play will speak to those desperately needing to be heard.
“I’d like to see people not be afraid of talking about their mental health and not being afraid to share they have it,” said Maartman. “Just because you can’t see mental illness doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s really important to take care of your mental health. I think maladjusted is going to help our community bring about some positive changes with all the recommendations that are going to come from this.”
Directed by David Diamond and run through Theatre for Living out of Vancouver. During this current tour that started Jan. 27, maladjusted is being performed in BC and Alberta and will have been performed nearly 30 times.
Tickets
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students with valid ID and available by through the School of Nursing, by phoning 250-828-5441, or online through Eventbrite.
