Hope Song goes digital

SURF Coast playwright and author Janet Brown’s theatre production The Hope Song has been released online by a Sydney production company.

The video has been viewed almost 3,000 times since its release two weeks ago.

Sydney actor and director Socratis Otto, best known for his work in hit television series Wentworth, produced the digital version in response to the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“We are super proud to share this piece about mental health, help reduce stigma and deconstruct the language around it,” Otto said.

“The digital version lends beautifully to Janet’s original stage play of seven different people talking about their mental health struggles.”

Brown wrote the play for the 2017 Art of the Minds Festival and it was performed by the Anglesea Performing Arts Troupe for three seasons before productions in Geelong, Melbourne and Sydney.

The digital version features well-known Australian actors Di Smith, Luke Carrol and Otto himself.

Brown said she did not hesitate when approached by Otto.

“I really want to emphasise how proud I am of this project, every step of the way has been great. I’m so grateful to the seven people who shared their story with me. It resonated so much that in 2020 there is a digital release. People still find these stories mesmerising.”

To view The Hope Song, head to facebook.com/TheHopeSong or https://youtu.be/DSly6-bo_Ms