Cry Havoc Theater Company鈥檚 latest play, , follows a group of college freshman through their orientation at SMU. The play flashes back to each character鈥檚 experience through the pandemic, moving through themes of grief, healing and finding support in community.
Ava McKay, 18, acts in the production and helped to co-create the story through hours of character improv with the company.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been cathartic in some ways, but a lot more reflective,鈥� McKay said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a very different person than I was at the start of the pandemic. Mentally and emotionally, I feel very lucky to have come out in a more positive place. This show really explores the toll the pandemic has had on youth."
The show is produced in partnership with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Okay to Say, .
Tegan Henke, , said she鈥檚 grateful to hear first-hand from young people about their pandemic experiences and what they need moving forward.
鈥淥ften we create these systems of support that are adult-focused, and it maybe doesn鈥檛 resonate with a younger population,鈥� Henke said. 鈥淚 think the importance of a play like this is that it鈥檚 really giving us an opportunity to hear directly from the youth, and help us to have open and honest conversations,鈥� Henke said.
Ultimately, McKay is grateful the play presents the characters as fully realized people trying to find their places in the world.
鈥淲e are playing people, not diagnoses,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here isn鈥檛 one way that mental health or a certain diagnosis looks like. We are playing people who have lived lives and had varying traumatic experiences.鈥�
She鈥檚 hopeful the play will open up conversations not only with other youth, but with the adults in their lives. The Art of Broken Things .
Got a tip? Email Elena Rivera at鈥�erivera@kera.org. You can follow Elena on Twitter鈥�@elenaiswriting.
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