Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

New play explores mental illness with personal stories

Maladjusted by Vancouver's Theatre for Living
arts_arts3-1
Too much medicine Theatre for Living performs Maladjusted, a play about mental health and the health care system. Photo submitted

A new play exploring mental health by a company of both professional actors and people who have worked through their own psychological challenges is coming to the Sea to Sky region.

Maladjusted humanizes mental health by telling stories about the lives of people suffering through mental illness or working as caregivers — and the attitudes and system they come up against.

The play is participatory, giving the audience the opportunity to tell their own stories, even directing the action of the story.

Vancouver's Theatre for Living is bringing Maladjusted to Totem Hall in Squamish as part of its first-ever tour to 26 communities in British Columbia and Alberta. This follows a successful run in Vancouver in 2013.

Maladjusted takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 through EventBrite or at the door.

"When you see the professional actors and those with little experience on stage it is magical," says Dina Alansari of Theatre for Living. "The drama is everywhere. I just saw them rehearse and I was in tears, even though I saw it in 2013 and on DVD. It is just so real."

Alansari describes theatre as a chance to take audiences to places they wouldn't otherwise have access to.

"The more I talk to people, the more I realize that all of us are affected by this at one point or another," she says.

The Sea to Sky Suicide Prevention Working group with support from Squamish Rotary and Squamish Nation are sponsoring this performance.

For more information visit www.theatreforliving.com.

Whistler filmmakers in Crazy 8 finals

The Twisted Slipper, a short film by Whistler director Angie Nolan, is one of six finalists for the Crazy 8 film competition.

The Twisted Slipper is a retelling of Cinderella, about a young barista who is forced to toil in his wicked stepmother's coffee shop.

It was co-written by Nolan and Sharai Rewels and produced by Katie Schaitel.

Crazy 8 is an eight-day filmmaking challenge that funds and supports emerging filmmakers as they produce a short film. The teams begin filming on Feb. 13.

The six finalists received $1,000 and a production package to help them complete their work. The finished films will be screened at a gala at Science World in Vancouver on Feb. 28.

Pied Piper play gets Whistler youngsters on stage

Forty-nine youngsters from Spring Creek and Myrtle Philip Community Schools (MPCS) are performing The Pied Piper in two shows.

The Missoula Children's Theatre Company is rehearsing the play this week, with performances at Millennium Place on Friday, Jan. 23, at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

"This is a first time experience for many of the students and could be the 'spark' that might set them off on a lifetime career," says Tim Hucke, MPCS PAC representative. 

"We are hoping to have a full house (with an) appreciative and applauding audience at Millennium Place for both performances."

Tickets are $10 and $15. Tickets can be purchased at Millennium Place or online at the Whistler Arts Council website.