Sudbury play explores mental health and healing

The run of the play 'Every Brilliant Thing' has been extended at Yes Theatre’s outdoor theatre venue The Refettorio in downtown Sudbury.

The one-man play explores themes of mental health and how people get through difficult times in their lives.

The run of the play 'Every Brilliant Thing' has been extended at Yes Theatre’s outdoor theatre venue The Refettorio in downtown Sudbury. The one-man play explores themes of mental health and how people get through difficult times in their lives. (Supplied)

"It is an incredible piece about this young boy who is navigating his mother’s mental health and mental illness," said actor Alessandro Costantini.

"And in reaction to that event, he creates a list of everything worth living for when he is seven years old. And that list grows up with him and changes and influences the way he sees the world."

Costantini said the play has been extended to Sept. 26 to give people an opportunity to see what Yes Theatre describes as a "gentle, life-affirming, rollercoaster of a show about what makes life worth living and the lengths we will go for those we love."

"It’s a beautiful piece about conversation -- about how we get through the difficult moments in life and how talking really is the most important thing," he said.

The run of the play 'Every Brilliant Thing' has been extended at Yes Theatre’s outdoor theatre venue The Refettorio in downtown Sudbury. The one-man play explores themes of mental health and how people get through difficult times in their lives. (Supplied)

The actor said there is a unique interactive aspect to the play for the audience.

"As people enter into the theatre, everyone is given a little piece of paper with a number," Costantini said.

"And when I say that number, they are responsible to read out the thing. So, it really is a conversation with the audience --everyone participates. Not in a really scary way. You don’t need to worry about getting thrown up on stage."

• Download the CTV News app now
• Get local breaking news alerts
• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox

The audience also has the opportunity to leave notes about a brilliant thing.

Costantini said the play explores themes of mental health, illness and depression and tackles the subject matter in a way that brings lightness, humour and centres it all in love and respect.