Chatroom hits nerves

It is the story of a young boy who is bullied by his brothers and seeks refuge online, only to be encouraged by new cyber friends to take his own life. 

Ballarat Secondary College student Jordan Cassells said there was something more powerful in watching the performance played out live, in their own drama rooms at the Wendouree campus on Friday.

“I think suicide needs to be taken a lot more seriously than society takes it nowadays,” Jordan said. “It’s hard for people who are lonely and scared to talk to others...we all need to spend more time with them as friends.”

This is a sentiment reinforced by suicide prevention advocate RU OK? Day this week, reconnecting with loved ones and having the trust to feel when something might be wrong, or having the trust to speak about feelings with each other. 

It was also a particularly leading into World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday.

Mad Swan performance company teamed up with Headspace Ballarat and Ballarat Community Health to take the show into schools, offering a post-performance debrief. Students were also provided take-home materials to later process.

Chatroom director Alexandra Meerbach said feedback from past performances had been strong with students opening up to cast members or had later reported back they had sought help.

Written by an Irish playwright, the script was modified for Ballarat references. Actors are drawn from schools across the region.

Student David LePoidevin said, as an audience member, it made it easier to connect with characters, drawing on personal experience through family and friends.

Classmate Jasmine Cupples said cyber bullying and bullying remarks were definitely far too big a problem for Ballarat teenagers. She planned to be more careful how she spoke to people.

“Too often things happen that shouldn’t happen,” Jasmine said. “People should think about what they’re saying more...I think some people do it just to get a reaction.”