World Mental Health Day Special Screening

Title: Everyone's Business

Rating: E = Exempt from classification (as an artistic theatre production)

Disclosure: Mature themes and course language

Synopsis: Everyone’s Business is an intense dramatic play, with many comedic elements, in which a series of interconnected people talk about the same ill-fated person whom they have known at different times in his life. They each openly voice their personal opinions, recollections and judgements, meanwhile spotlighting prominent issues in society—sexuality, mental health, foster care, religion and drug abuse. The play is complimented by transition videos between scenes that fill in the gaps and show what has occurred over time beyond that which is portrayed on stage. These transitions use a variety of mediums without dialogue, including a photograph slideshow, stop-motion animation, go-pro capture, comic strip and shadow puppetry. Unapologetically, Everyone’s Business is extremely emotive and accurately portrays many real-world narratives.

Running Time: Approx. 90 minutes

Playwright & Director: Chris Atanasov-Elliott

Cast: Wade Mooney, Alisa Baker, Kurt Swadling, Ashley Atanasov-Elliott, TJ Wickham, Candice Stait, Cameron Gough, Gabby Laidlaw, Katelyn Constable, Kathryn Kerr, Laurena Kim-Matthews, Zachary Johns, Lachlan Standley, Dean Netherwood, Tiarna King, Sophie Moffat, Lana Watkins

Videography: Jeff Philippi (Crow's Feet Media)

 

Chris Atanasov-Elliott - (playwright and director of “Everyone’s Business”) has an Honours Bachelor of Education (Primary) and has been teaching for 15 years. He is also a husband, father, grandpa, actor, community volunteer, LGBTIQ+ representative and church parishioner, plus heavily involved with Rockhampton Little Theatre. His very own play titled “Everyone's Business”, had its stage debut during Mental Health Week in 2019 with significant support from headspace Rockhampton. Inspired by elements of his own life and that of other people who impacted him personally, the script took four years to perfect. He discloses it underwent multiple workshops and rewrites, aiming to produce something real, historically accurate and uniquely powerful in modern Australia. “Everyone’s Business” is dedicated to Chris’s late sister, Claudia, who took her own life when she was only 29 years old.

Keith Ung - has a Masters Degree in Social Work. He has worked with a full spectrum of Mental Health issues including teenagers, young adults and clients who are older. He has specialised in trauma informed counselling, working with clients who have struggled with abuse in their childhood. Self harm and suicide ideation is familiar territory for Keith who assisted with clients effected by the Royal Commission into Child Sex Abuse. He works with a range of counselling modalities refined over a career as a MH clinician spanning some 30 years. Additionally, he has tutored Psychology and Social Work students at QUT and Griffith Universities.

Martina Wenman - has a Bachelor of Social Work and is the former Manager of headspace Rockhampton. Her early career included working extensively with domestic violence and its impact on families both immediately and over time. She has worked with the children of families impacted by substance abuse. She has worked with family therapy and has experience managing client services for people seeking support for mental health issues. Martina enjoys working in a group therapy situation and has experience with self harm and suicide ideation with young people and adult survivors of abuse.

Julie Mudge - possesses a Bachelor of Social Work and has worked in Community Mental Health for 11 years but recently relocated to Rockhampton for a job in Prison Mental Health. She is also undertaking post graduate studies in Forensic Mental Health. Additionally, Julie has worked with homeless youth, people living with HIV and as a counsellor at a Protection Prison. As a founding member of Pride, she remains a strong advocate for the LGBTI community. Both personally and professionally, Julie is no stranger to suicide ideation and people that self harm. She dated Chris Atanasov-Elliott’s sister, Claudia, for 8 years. Within those 8 years, Claudia struggled with her own mental wellness, finding it difficult to ask for help, and at times Julie found living with her somewhat challenging. Later, whilst no longer together, Julie lost the love of her life to suicide, which left her with many unanswered questions.

TJ Wickham - (who played Mother in “Everyone’s Business”) completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts, a Bachelor of Psychology Honours in Literature and is finishing her Honours in Psychology. She works as a Child and Family Counsellor and utilises her passion for Expressive Therapies to help those who have experienced Domestic and Family Violence, trauma, mental illness and others that identify as LGBTQI, Culturally Diverse and First Nations people. She truly believes that everyone has a way of expressing themselves, and the arts are a great way for people to tell their story and journey through life.

Ashley Atanasov-Elliott - (who played Reverend in “Everyone’s Business”) has worked in retail for 15 years and was a foster carer for 3 years. He has been an actor in Rockhampton Little Theatre productions since 2015, plus taken on the roles of club custodian and youth tutor for the past 2 years. Ashley’s other hats include son, brother, husband, stepfather, grandad, baker, gamer, ally and friend.

Wade Mooney - (who played Narrator in “Everyone’s Business”) has spent the last 10+ years working in multiple industries in Queensland, as well as the UK for a stint, coming into contact with people from all walks of life. Acting as Narrator in “Everyone’s Business” was his second ever stage performance. He was drawn to this role because of his past experience with anxiety and depression in his own life.

Jeff Philippi - Videographer, Editor and Photographer at Crow's Feet Media