Checkers is a play about the young people in an Adolescent Psychiatric Unit (APU). It is based on the novel of the same name by John Marsden and has been adapted for the stage by Martin Mantle. It was a collaboration between Stage One Creative and Beyond Empathy.

The play is directed by Martin Mantle (Stage One Creative and an experienced theatre practitioner), assisted by Phoenix Valore (Nicola Speden) (Beyond Empathy). Rehearsals were held at Stage One Creative, prior to performances in the second week of December, 2008. The play was performed at Duval High School, Armidale High School, O’Connor High School, and Guyra Central School. There were also three public evening performances in the Auditorium, the CB Newling Building (aka The Old Teachers’ College), Armidale.

Workshops / discussion groups on youth mental health were held after the performances of the play in schools. These were facilitated by six young people from Beyond Empathy’s Leadership programs, who worked with six youth mental health professionals as 'buddies'. The BE Leaders attended two days of training in facilitating mental health workshops/discussion groups prior to this. As senior participants in BE’s leadership program they all have prior experience in running workshops in various areas. The discussion groups were run in smaller groups to encourage participation.

The final report and evaluation for the Checkers project can be accessed as a pdf at the link below.

Checkers Final Report and Evaluation