BREAKWATER explores mental health among youth with a great flood as pandemic metaphor
Some Assembly Theatre Company and RHYTAG present a new digital play by Valerie Methot in collaboration with diverse Metro Vancouver youth
BREAKWATER’s Ciara Wilkinson as Callie. Photo by Flick Harrison
Some Assembly Theatre Company and RHYTAG present the world premiere of BREAKWATER June 30 at 4 pm PDT, July 8 at 7 pm PDT, and July 11 at 3 pm PDT.
AROUND LATE FEBRUARY and early March of 2020, Valerie Methot was having conversations with diverse youth about mental-health struggles as part of her work as executive and artistic director and producer of Some Assembly Theatre Company. The organization takes a collaborative approach to creating original plays that promote dialogue and positive social change surrounding issues facing young people. Many said they were feeling disconnected from other people and even themselves and their own lives; they also shared how their concerns were often brushed off by others, perceived as merely a way to get attention or just “all in their head”. The discussions motivated Methot even more to bring to life a theatre project she had envisioned that would delve into mental-health issues among young people to normalize the subject and help the community address it wholeheartedly and holistically.
Then the pandemic hit.
“My conversations with youth continued,” says Methot, a professional theatre playwright, director, designer, and visual artist who is artist-in-residence at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, where she created RHYTAG (Roundhouse Youth Theatre Action Group). “During these conversations, they talked about experiencing an increase in mental health struggles due to the pandemic. When I reflect back on those first few months of the pandemic it was a very sad time. I was always so relieved and happy to hear their voice—that they were willing to stay connected.”
Methot says she was and is grateful for the key partnership Some Assembly Theatre has with Vancouver Coastal Health, which provided resources such as tips on how to cope with depression and anxiety. Still, there’s nothing like in-person connection, and that’s what the youth were missing.
“A lot of people might think that youth are glued to their phones and therefore would be fine,” Methot says. “Some of the youth who struggle with communication found that Zoom caused more anxiety. It’s hard to read a person’s intention or feelings when on Zoom. There’s a certain format to it that’s very draining and void of true human connection.
Valerie Methot. Photo by Jeremy Baxter
“It was a stressful time—for everyone—dealing with effects of the pandemic,” she says. “The increase in struggles for the youth made this project even more urgent.”
The project is called BREAKWATER, a digital play by Some Assembly Theatre Company and RHYTAG that has its world premiere June 30 and July 8 and 11.
The new virtual production follows six youth facing the effects of isolation and mental health challenges in the wake of a symbolic world-wide flood.
“They express themselves through poetry, painting, music, spoken word, dance, and physical exercise as they work through these struggles,” says Methot, whose show credits inlcude playwright, director, producer, set design, and sound design “Throughout the play they reach out beyond their isolation. What we see is the building of a strong caring community, and this is very inspiring. We hope it will inspire a ripple effect to our audiences that will continue to their families, friends, and communities beyond.”
Getting to this point, however, was not easy. Back last spring when lockdowns were in place, Some Assembly lost access to the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre—another key partner and the home of the company’s workshops and rehearsals—because it was being used as an emergency shelter. “All of this was weighing on me, but the importance of the project kept me moving forward with determination,” Methot says. “I kept thinking about the youth, and the methodology using art in this project to process trauma and challenging issues, and the incredible artist team committed to the project.”
Many project funders helped get the project off the ground, with the collaborative effort involving a total of about 150 youth, artists, and contributors. They held their first in-person group script-writing workshop last November. Methot facilitated the creation of a project “meeting agreement” where artists and youth voiced what they needed for a safe, respectful environment. Then it was time to get busy creating.
Methot wrote the script with youth performers Raylen Adriano, Hiraeth Campbell, Fox Hunt, Mitch Broome, Ciara Wilkinson, Skylar Walker, and Fiona Jenkins. During the process, they had a discussion about what “ripple effect” means to people.
“From here we discovered that a flood would be symbolic for the pandemic, something a bit more tangible to express how touching water could have a ripple effect to everyone,” Methot says. "“That’s the crux of this pandemic: it affects all of us and one action affects us as individuals, and our loved ones, and so on. It’s a devastating effect when someone does not consider how their actions can harm others.”
Methot worked with visual artist Duane Murrin on the set design of an apartment building to house each character in isolation. Technical director Jeremy Baxter and Ken Hollands of Scene Ideas made the vision come to be, while costumer designers Nik McLaren and Anna Talbot, Montreal-based composer and sound designer Patrick Graham, video designer Flick Harrison, and acting coach and youth mentor Allen Morrison, as well as script consultants and counsellors, were among the many other professionals artists onboard. “The key to success with this project is that all of the artists are not only highly skilled, they are also caring and compassionate people who are committed to respectful relationships with everyone on the team— most importantly, the youth,” Methot says.
BREAKWATER is an illustration of how theatre—whether by participating in it or watching it—can help people understand and cope with things in life like mental-health challenges. In keeping with Some Assembly Theatre’s mandate to promote dialogue and wellness, the virtual play is free, and there are community discussions after each broadcast. The show is also made up of diverse youth—this being central to the company’s overarching work and philosophy—including BIPOC and LGBTQ2SAI+ individuals, and others from various backgrounds experiencing a wide range of concerns.
“Youth audience members who may also be experiencing mental-health struggles or a feeling that no one will understand them will hopefully get a sense that they are not alone in the world from seeing BREAKWATER,” Methot says. “My hope is that the audience will be inspired by the compassion and strong caring community in BREAKWATER.
“The youth have inspired me tremendously,” she adds. “To witness the growth and development of these incredibly thoughtful, intelligent, creative and caring human beings is a true gift. To hear what they say is so inspiring. They are so brave and so smart. They are the future. Many of these youth have noted how the project has changed their life. Some say it saved their life.”
BREAKWATER’s Broome. Photo by Gaetan Nerincx
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