From the Inside Out, a project of Act for Action – Theater for All, offers highly participatory workshops and interactive theater performances exploring issues of mental health.
The project lets people practice handling scenarios between law enforcement and people with mental health issues, raising awareness about law enforcement and mental health, while improving our capacity to handle related situations.
What helps the interaction run smoothly? What are issues that can affect communication? What are related rights? How can I be an effective bystander? What are some myths and stereotypes about people working in law enforcement and people with mental health issues? Meeting people working in law enforcement and people with mental health issues outside of a crisis setting can be helpful.
From the Inside Out offers interactive plays, exploring issues of mental health, written from personal experiences. In the style of the Theater of the Oppressed, short plays requiring problem solving (written mostly by people dealing with mental health issues) are performed first without interruption or solving any issues presented.
When repeated, volunteers from the audience stop scenes, replace chosen characters and act out potential solutions while the performers improvise around them. Discussion follows each intervention. The program reaches people with mental health issues, family, friends, people working in law enforcement, mental health professionals and the general public. Funding for the project comes from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
From the Inside Out is seeking people knowledgeable about law enforcement and rights to offer ideas, help write the plays, perform and/or attend the performances. Even half an hour reviewing a script or answering questions will make our plays more effective. Scheduled performances include:
