‘I didn’t realise there was a problem’

One of the most pervasive, intrusive – and for many people – least understood and appreciated illnesses is that of mental health.  

Alarmingly, mental illness will be directly experienced by one in five Australians during their lifetime. 

For students and educationalists charged with developing an awareness and wider public acceptance of mental illness, a new Australian play Inside Out provides an instructional drama that challenges the denial mythology and promotes awareness of its debilitating and sometimes life shattering consequences. 

Inside Out explores a mother’s struggle to understand her son’s mental illness.  

Inside Out portrays her desire to maintain a loving family relationship when the experience of schizophrenia fractures and distorts parental influence.  

Inside Out highlights the relational dilemma to create a more compassionate, less stigmatised response among friends and throughout the wider community towards people living this tortured, often dysfunctional lifestyle.  

This 90-minute production is being performed at the Seymour Centre Sydney with special school-based performances on 19, 20, 26 and 27 May at 11.00am.  

Apart from its dramatic appeal the play seeks to create greater student scrutiny of mental illness as post-play educational forums follow each school-based performance.

Each forum provides an opportunity for discussion and deeper understanding of this chronic, often misunderstood condition among students and teachers. 

Led by mental health professionals this dialogue with the play’s actors and its creative team will create a better, more informed understanding of mental health issues.  

Secondary students studying PDHPE, Drama or English will be particularly challenged to attend along with school teachers and councillors. A teacher’s support resource kit is also available on request. 

Inside Out stars Tracy Mann and Lindsay Farris. The show is produced by Christine Dunstan Productions.

The play’s Sydney season follows its award winning premiere at the Canberra Workshop Season. Inside Out also won the prestigious 2008 Seaborn Playwrighting Award for its writer Mary Rachel Brown. 

Additional information and school performance bookings can be obtained from the Seymour Centre -  www.seymourcentre.com.au  

Further details on the play can be obtained from Christine Dunstan Productions -  www.cdp.com.au 

Student concession tickets are available for school bookings.  

Prior to its Sydney season Inside Out will be performed at the HotHouse Theatre in Albury/Wodonga from 5 – 9 May. Schools in the NSW southern border region can arrange bookings through  www.hothousetheatre.com.au 

‘This is a powerful production, portraying the experiences and effects of psychotic illness. Theatre is a wonderful medium to reach out and help understanding and to break down the public ignorance’: Margaret Springgay. Executive Director, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia.   

Mary Rachel Brown

Mary Brown received justifiable recognition for writing Inside Out when she received the 2008 Rodney Seaborn Playwright’s Award which follows her 2006 Griffin Award and the Max Afford Award for Australian Gothic which was short listed for the 2007 New Dramatist Award. Mary is currently working on a commission at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre on the colourful world of the Dapto dogs. 

Tracy Mann

Tracy Mann has been a familiar face in Australian television, film and theatre for more than 30 years with stunning performances in The Box, Prisoner, MDA, Janus and The Brush Off. Her feature films included Hard Knocks for which she won an AFI Best Actress Award.Her theatre works include The Graduate, Burning, Dead Funny, The Heidi Chronicles, Catholic School Girls and Crystal Clear for which she received a Theatre Critics Award nomination. 

Lindsay Farris

After commencing his professional acting career in 2002 Lindsay Farris has appeared in Hamlet, I’m Not Rappaport, Seven Little Australians, Love of the Nightingale, Emergence, Blowing Whistles and undertook a national tour with Brainstorm Productions. Lindsay’s television credits include Sea Patrol, All Saints, Marking Time, Blue Water High and The Sleepover Club. He is a regular theatre lecturer at schools and dramatic events including the NIDA Young Actors Studio and the NSW State Drama Company. 

Christine Dunstan Productions

CDP specialises in award-winning ‘boutique’ theatre productions based on Christine Dunstan’s more than 40-years’ experience in all forms of theatre production in Australia and overseas. The many talented actors involved with CDP have included Belinda Giblin, Nancye Hayes, Judi Connellli, Tina Bursill, Jennifer McGregor, Todd McKenney, Drew Forsythe and John Wood.  

Many of Australia’s leading theatrical writers have been involved with CDP plays including Mary Rachel Brown, David Williamson, Richard Alfieri and John Misto.  Other recent CDP awards include the 2007 Helpmann Award for ‘Best Regional Touring Production’ and the 2007 Australian Performing Arts Centres Association Drover Award.  

Posted: 30/01/09

Building young leaders – the work of the Halogen Foundation

The influence of the Halogen Foundation – a voluntary group of business and community leaders who are encouraging and developing leadership among Australia’s young people – continues to expand nationally with unprecedented student attendances at the Foundation’s National Young Leaders Days. 

The Foundation estimates 22,500 Primary and Year 7 pupils and support teachers will attend forthcoming Halogen leader’s days over the next month, an outstanding acknowledgement of the enthusiasm for leadership and service being shown by Australian students.

Halogen’s secondary student leadership events in November last year attracted more than 7,500 senior pupils. 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd acknowledged the significance of such participation by encouraging young Australians to attend the nation-wide National Young Leaders Days seminars.  

‘True leadership is about service – service to your community and your nation. The greatest leaders are those who serve those who are most in need; leaders who act with integrity and conviction, and those who are able to engage the skills and enthusiasm of others in the best interests of the whole community,’ Mr Rudd said. 

National Young Leaders Days in 2009 will be held on the following days:

Sydney – Monday 23 February

Melbourne – Monday 16 March

Brisbane – Wednesday 18 March

Perth – Friday 20 March

Adelaide – Monday 23 March. 

Attendance bookings are available for the Sydney and Melbourne events. For more details go to  www.halogenfoundation.org  

Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth seminars have been sold out. 

National Young Leaders Days seek to achieve the following objectives:

i)   Inspire students to make a positive contribution to their school.

ii)  Motivate students to become leaders in their area of influence.

iii)  Empower students to balance study, school commitments and social life and better manage stress.

iv)  Promote inspirational role models to share their views on leadership with young people.

v)  Encourage knowledge growth and skills development in areas of student excellence and leadership.

vi)  Develop student connections across schools and build long term student support networks.

The Halogen Foundation will also launch a new Primary Leadership Project during 2009. Details will be announced on the Halogen website   www.halogenfoundation.org

Posted: 17/02/09