Out of the Shadows
A series of innovative community workshops to tackle the loneliness epidemic in the ACT
Ever found it difficult to talk about your mental health and feeling lonely? Fair enough, most people do. That’s why we’re trying something new in the ACT to reduce loneliness and combat the pernicious stigma that surrounds it. We’ve partnered with the Foundation for Social Health and the Centre for Social Impact to test a new approach to tackling the loneliness epidemic through a series of innovative community workshops.
The team is running ten community events over March and April and we are excited to to deliver five of them using a mixture of Playback Theatre Performances and ‘Cops in the Head’ workshops developed by Brazilian theatre activist Augusto Boal. Details below!
Cops in the Head: Loneliness and Solitude
An interactive theatrical exploration of loneliness, and all of the voices telling us what we should and shouldn’t do to deal with it
Join us for our ‘Cops in the Head’ workshop, where we’ll dive into the effects of loneliness and how we give and ask for help. The Cops in the Head workshop is all about understanding the ‘cops’ in our heads – those critical inner voices that hold us back from reaching out when we need support or offering help when others do. Please note, audience members are encouraged to share their experiences, but no one is ever coerced or embarrassed into participating in a Rebus performance. You can get a lot out of this session as a passive observer.
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Cops in the Head | Sunday March 30 @ 4pm Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre
Join us for an afternoon of self exploration and learning about ‘cops’, solitude and loneliness.
What you can expect
During this session, we will discover the internalised judgments we carry with us, like a voice of authority that shapes how we handle tough emotions, especially feelings of isolation that can stop us from asking for help or even make us hesitant to support others. In this workshop, we’ll unpack those barriers and explore how to break free from them.
What could it mean to build healthier habits around giving and receiving help, whether for your own personal growth or to better support the people around you?
It’s a safe space for you to express your emotions and thoughts without judgement or stigma. You will also learn about mental health and wellbeing supports available in your local area. You don’t have to be an actor yourself to come along, just bring curiousity and willingness to participate or watch. Everyone is welcome to participate.
See you there? Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn and explore in a safe and supportive environment.
Reconnection
Facilitated collective storytelling played back in real time on the stage
Join us for one of these three free events with the Rebus Playback Theatre Ensemble, that will help you connect with your emotions and other people who feel the same way as you do. Our talented actors play out your experiences of loneliness and solitude through improvisation and audience participation. Share your stories, and watch as they are transformed into powerful performances right before your eyes. Please note, audience members are encouraged to share their experiences, but no one is ever coerced or embarrassed into participating in a Rebus performance. You can get a lot out of this session as a passive observer.
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Reconnection | Friday March 28 @ 2pm Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre
Reconnection | Monday March 31 @ 6.30pm The Space, Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Reconnection | Sunday April 6 @ 4pm Mockingbird Acting Studio, Belconnen Arts Centre
Join us for an evening of raw emotions and authentic storytelling.
What’s Playback Theatre?
It’s an improvisation technqiue used by our trained staff to improve social connection and understanding of solutions to loneliness by allowing audience members to tell stories from their own lives and watch as actors and musicians enact them on the spot using movement, music and words, without script or rehearsal.
What you can expect
You’ll meet other people who share experiences and feelings of social isolation and loneliness in Canberra. It’s a safe space for you to express your emotions and share stories without judgement or stigma. You will also learn about mental health and wellbeing supports available in your local area. You don’t have to be an actor yourself to come along, just bring curiousity and willingness to participate or watch. Everyone is welcome to participate.
See you there? Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the depths of human emotions in a safe and supportive environment.
This project is supported by The Australian Government Department of Social Services.
