A West Dorset theatre company has raised £1,000 for suicide prevention charities through a heartfelt play deeply personal to those behind the performance.
Friends of West Dorset performed the one-person play "Every Brilliant Thing" at the Lyric Theatre and St Swithun's Church in a bid to spread the word about the importance of mental health support.
The play looked to address the issues of suicide and its prevention, and the company wanted to raise awareness of the dangers and make donations to both Samaritans and James' Place, a specialist charity supporting those at risk of suicide.
Actress Romla Walker and director Margie Barbour said they had both been moved by the way the play touched many people in west Dorset.
Stella, a steward at the Lyric Theatre who had personal experience of her own mother’s suicide when she was young, said "At long last mental health issues and suicide is not being kept hidden. This play is absolutely vital in changing stigma and 'allowing' people to speak out.”
After each performance the audience were invited to donate to these charities, and a combination of a percentage of the box office from the three performances and the audience's donations raised £1,000 which will be divided between the two charities.
The play includes the guidelines from the Samaritans about how to report suicide. Director Margie Barbour explained: "The cause is also very close to my heart, my family has never been the same since my brother's death."
The company plans to take elements of the production to schools and colleges, old people's homes and community meetings to use the power of the play to address what it calls a “mental health crisis” in the country today. One of the final lines in the play emphasises the "importance of talking about things, especially the things that are difficult to talk about."
Niki McCretton, director of the Lyric Theatre, said: "A vital part of The Lyric’s vision is our commitment to creating links and opportunities between artists and the local community, to provide Dorset with access to excellence in performance and practice so we were very happy to welcome another production produced by the Friends of West Dorset."
The company is delighted to have been invited to take the play to the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis for a performance in April.
The Samaritans' support phone line is 116 123.
You can donate to Samaritans and James' Place via their websites.
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