Hay Are We Okay? Podcast: A Stage for Connection

S2 - Episode 02: A Stage for Connection

by The Do More Agriculture Foundation | Hay Are We Okay? Podcast

Small-town theatres often bring in live music or plays. So what happens when the audience stops sitting in the dark and becomes part of the cast itself? In a rural Saskatchewan community, Every Brilliant Thing is bringing audiences directly into the story. Host Merle Massie talks with storyteller Elizabeth Nepjuk and director Stephen Waldschmidt about the one-person show, written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, and what happens when a theatre audience becomes part of the performance.

As Merle discovers firsthand, people in the crowd are soon tasked with reading lines from slips of paper, taking on the roles of a parent, a friend, even a sock-puppet counsellor. By the end of the play, the audience becomes a roomful of witnesses who’ve helped tell a story about depression, suicide, and reasons to stay alive. Biggar & District Arts Council member Annette Fecht says “it really puts into perspective, you know, how big some of these little things are, how important they are.

We hear how the crowd shifts from rowdy to quiet, as randomly selected audience members stretch the show with improv of their own. The show veers from funny, to heavy, to tender, creating space for rural audiences to reflect, connect and leave with a sense of hope.

Listener advisory

This episode discusses mental health challenges, including thoughts of suicide. Please take care while listening and consider whether this content is right for you at this time.

If you need immediate help, please visit your local emergency department or call 911.

If you’re looking for support from someone who understands agriculture:

National Farmer Crisis Line: 1-866-327-6701 (1-866-FARMS01)

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide:

Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 or visit 988.ca.

For more details, see here (hyperlink to: https://www.domore.ag/crisis-contacts)....






CLICK HERE to listen to Hay Are We Okay?






Hay Are We Okay?: Catch all the episodes here.

Follow The Do More Agriculture Foundation on social media.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedomoreagriculturefoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domoreag/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/domoreag/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DoMoreAg/featured
X: https://x.com/domoreag


Sponsored by: Agco Agriculture Foundation



Disclaimer:
The Do More Agriculture Foundation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 or call 911. Check out crisis supports available across Canada.
You can also go to your nearest emergency department.