august 13 - 19 | 2014
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Exploring the male mind By KYLIE WILSON
HOT ISSUE:
Mt Beauty writer Megan Rigoni has touched on the issue of male mental health in her latest play, Heroes, which stars Logie award winning actor John Wood (inset). PHOTO: Alex Craig
GARDENING WITH
DEBBI
RSPCA
WITH
MARNIE
FILM
THE HUNDRED FOOT
JOURNEY
WINE TALK WITH
ANITA
MT BEAUTY playwright Megan Rigoni admits her latest play, featuring favorite Aussie actor John Wood this month, has been a harrowing experience. It’s got nothing to do with Wood – whom she has worked with before on her previous play, Symphony of Life – or any of the fantastic actors or crew. Rather, it is the journey itself to bring the play to the stage, offering some pretty confronting issues as talking points for rural audiences, particularly men. Her play, Heroes, is set among the staff of the fictional Drummer’s Hardware Store in a regional centre in rural Australia and gives audiences a glimpse of the struggles, trials and tribulations of everyday Aussie heroes as they deal with their relationship and health issues. “It’s been challenging and heartbreaking,” Megan said, nestled against the wood-fired heater on a frosty Mt Beauty morning. “Heroes was an emotional response to the hardships that many men face. “It shows the impact of loss on the lives of men. “The suicide rate in rural areas is alarming, as is the rise in mental health issues. “In the inception of this play I spoke with friends, family members, acquaintances, health professionals and academics, and I read. “I spoke with rural health workers about the devastation of drought on farming communities, and about the effects of suicide on families and farming communities. continued page |
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