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When Adam Fresco found out that his idea for a 24-hour Theatre Challenge had been awarded a RETHiNK Grant, he couldn’t quite believe the news.  “We assumed we must have been reading the email wrongly, because it appeared we’d won!” says Fresco, who runs Drama Train and is a member of the Titirangi Theatre Company.

There are no mistakes about it though – the Rethink Theatre Challenge has indeed won first prize in the race to be awarded a RETHiNK Grant to help the public shift their attitudes to mental disorder.  The Mind & Body Consultants Like Minds, Like Mine team, used the RETHiNK Grant to dare the people of Auckland to develop a creative project to reduce mental-health stigma and discrimination.  Like Minds received nearly 40 applications for the Grant and the RETHiNK Theatre Challenge was the first of three projects to receive the funds they need to carry out their dream project.

Fresco and his colleagues at the Titirangi Theatre Company first heard about the RETHiNK Grant in February and found themselves inspired by the challenge to tackle head-on the myths and fictions surrounding mental illness.  This seemed the perfect opportunity to use their annual theatre challenge to make a powerful difference to a wide audience.  The challenge is this: write a ten-minute theatre script exploring the theme ‘madness is a matter of degree.’  Teams of actors and directors will be given just 24-hours in which to workshop the best ten scripts for performance.  The final outcome will be a live show to challenge preconceptions of mental illness.

Writers are invited to submit short scripts (up to 10 minutes long) and the best will be performed by teams of actors and directors given just 24-hours to rehearse and ready their short shows! The final show will be made up of these short, sharp, exciting and innovative performances that will span a variety of styles – from comedy to tragedy and everything between – the only limit is the imagination. Writers, actors and directors of all ages and experience are invited to apply, either as individuals or a team – from local youth theatre and school groups to professional practitioners. Whilst those performing will need to be available to do so in Auckland, there is no restriction on writers. Already, Fresco and his team have approached the UK’s BOB BAKER (WALLACE AND GROMIT and DR WHO) as well as local Auckland actors from OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE and SHORTLAND STREET and a number of well-known comedians.

Fresco and the Titirangi Theatre Company are most excited to be providing the opportunity for a host of writers, actors and directors to be involved in creating short plays with a long reach; When asked what they’re aiming for, Fresco talks about “raising understanding and awareness of mental health issues and simultaneously offering people of all ages the opportunity to create dynamic short dramas for a wide audience.” This project opens the door for real people to enter the dialogue about this important community issue and contribute towards positive change.

Titirangi Theatre, in association with DramaTrain.co.nz invites Aucklanders aged 9 to 109, professional and amateur, experienced and new, to join the RETHiNK challenge by submitting scripts or getting involved as actors, directors or behind the scenes crew.

Interested? Contact: adam@dramatrain.co.nz

Media Enquiries: Contact Taimi Allan

Team Leader: Like Minds, Like Mine, Mind & Body Consultants

Ph (09) 630 5909 ext 870 / E: taimi@mindandbody.co.nz