New Hampshire Theatre Project’s Elephant-in-the-Room Series® presents A Wider Circle: Families Navigating Addiction – a film of the play by Mary Ellen Hedrick
Playwright and civics teacher Mary-Ellen Hedrick’s play A Wider Circle focuses on the complex topic of substance misuse & its devastating
effect on family dynamic. Following the filmed play reading of “A Wider Circle,” a facilitated audience discussion will give community members the opportunity to explore the sometimes uncomfortable topic of substance misuse, and will encourage honest conversations about our hidden “elephants.”
About the Elephant-in-the-Room Series®️: Created in 2017, EITRS®️ presents play readings and community conversations about topics that we, as a society, often feel uncomfortable discussing. Following the video or reading, a facilitated audience conversation focuses on attitudes about difficult ethical issues involved, and our responsibility as a society to bring these issues out of the shadows and into the cultural mainstream. As an integral aspect of each EITRS®️ presentation, NHTP collaborates with multiple social service organizations to develop these programs, and provide resources for getting help or accessing further education.
In the current climate of alienation and miscommunication, these events use live theatre to create a safe and nurturing environment that encourages courageous and transformational conversations about our hidden “elephants,” and emphasizes the importance of building empathy by looking at multiple points of view, much as the fabled “blind men” trying to understand the elephant in their own way.
This Elephant-in-the-Room Series® film presentation is sponsored by Elliott & Wendy Weiss, Jennifer Kinsey & John Bunker, and Kennebunk Savings Bank.
This is a FREE ADMISSION EVENT, but registration is required.
