Nye on the
River of

Life

Project Alchemy was a Rebus initiative to support artists living and working in Local Government Areas affected by the 2019-2020 fires.

Sue Norman and Colleen Weir saw the need to explain how trauma affects the brain and how grounding, movement and breath can support regulation. Nye on the River of Life started out as a presentation using the metaphor of a landscape of emotions and simple neurophysiology. Sue wrote and illustrated the picture book and then produced a video of that book to support their work.

The presentation video was produced to extend the reach of the training and resources and to meet the growing demand. Rebus artists were invited to provide their special input. Working with cinematographer Georgia Arndell and performers Declan Hastings and Chris Stanilewicz, Chipz Jin coordinated a focused shoot that translated key concepts into accessible visual storytelling. The process prioritised psychological safety, clear communication and close collaboration with the original creative team so that the intent and tone of the work were preserved.

The completed video now sits alongside the book as a freely available online resource for community groups, educators, health workers and people with lived experience, strengthening Rebus Theatre’s capacity to turn complex mental health information into engaging multimedia tools and extending the legacy of Project Alchemy