A socially provocative B.C. play made its premier and ran its course in 2013 but due to popular demand is now being remounted for a provincial tour.
The drama Maladjusted is scheduled for northern B.C. starting in late January. It makes its way to Prince George on Feb. 16 to shout above the din of controversy about the state of B.C.s mental health system and societys views of it.
It was researched, written and is performed by people in the throes of mental health realities, so the content is raw and real. Maladjusted is a work made by a drama company in the Lower Mainland called Theatre For Living (previously known as Headlines Theatre) that specializes in forum theatre and is modelled on a style known as theatre of the oppressed whereby difficult life issues, social injustice and even trauma are discussed in play form, often with scenes built through audience discussion or group workshops with those touched by the issues.
The theatre can take statistics and transform them into personal stories; the theatre can be a true voice of people who are struggling with various aspects of the stigmatization issue, said David Diamond, the artistic and managing director of Theatre For Living. More than that, this production, created and performed by people who have struggled with mental health issues from inside the system, can create a vehicle to help adapt policy and plans for social service agencies and governments (who are willing to listen) to ensure that services are effective.
In a society that has been largely mechanized and constructed on systems (justice system, healthcare system, education system, etc.), there are those who dont fit or cant conform to the standardized norms. Diamonds form of theatre uses creative forces to give those people a voice and perhaps give the keepers of those systems some new shapes to think about that would be more helpful for those outsiders.
Over the 31-year history of Theatre For Living, some of those outsider issues have included residential school survivors, gang violence, youth bullying, addictions, the effects of corporate agendas and globalization, plus many more.
One of the roles of theatre, in my mind, is to make the invisible visible; to connect the dots between seemingly disconnected parts of a puzzle, Diamond said. The issues of mental health and stigmatization, while being invisible to a great deal of the population, affect us all on a daily basis. Building public awareness of the issue is important to the overall health of our communities. It is an essential element of overall community wellness that health authorities on which we rely for support in times of mental duress be themselves healthy places for both clients and staff.
Maladjusted will hold this discussion at Westwood Church (2658 Ospika Boulevard). For information about attendance call 250-564-8644, extension 201. The show will also be staged in Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Chetwynd and Fort St. John in the days close to the Prince George show.
Prince Georges Maladjusted girl
The all-professional cast and crew of Maladjusted includes well known stage and screen face Sam Bob, along with actors (with experience in different facets of mental health) Pierre Leichner, Martin Filby, Khoal Marks, Erin Arnold and someone who will be standing on home stage when the show comes to Prince George: Michaela Hiltergerke.
The 22-year-old has had years of struggling with mental health and also with the effects of medication.
At the age of 19, Micheala decided to stop all psychiatric medications and suffered through debilitating withdrawal effects completely on her own, said a Theatre For Living statement. She went on to complete high school with honours and a bursary. She is now moving towards a career to work with children and youth-at-risk.
Talking about this time in her life, Micheala says, The hardest part about the healing process is teaching ones self that it is OK and normal to feel sad, OK to feel angry, OK to feel happy and excited.
These themes form part of the on-stage presentation contained in Maladjusted. She wants to be part of this cast because the production helps people understand the stigma of a mental health label and the powerlessness of being diagnosed crazy.
