Earlier this year, Year 11 Drama Students from Rutherford Technology High School competed in the annual Hunter Region Mental Health Festival "Mindplay" at Newcastle University Drama Theatre. The students performed a play titled “Taking Control” on the topic of Bipolar disorder.
In an exciting development , reflecting the relevance and quality of the performance, Rutherford Technology High Students have now been invited to present their play at The Black Dog Institute (Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick) on Friday 11 August 2006 at 2.30 pm.
The play will be performed in front of an expert judging panel who will provide feedback:
• Prof Gordon Parker – Director of Black Dog Institute
• Prof Philip Hazell – Psychiatrist at Rivendell Unit
• Dr Gin Malhi – Psychiatrist at Black Dog Institute
• Assoc Prof Neil Cole – Researcher at Alfred Psyciatry Research Centre VIC
(NB – Prof Cole is a former Shadow Attorney General in Victoria who was one of the first Australian politicians to publicly discuss his own mental illness. He is also a playwright, researcher and mental health advocate)
This is a wonderful opportunity for students from Rutherford to perform in Sydney and provides a high level of recognition for the work that they have put into researching and producing this play, which vividly conveys a significant message about bipolar disease.