One in five Australians will directly experience a mental illness in their lifetime, an experience which is deeply personal and often misunderstood. The award winning production Inside Out plays at QUT Gardens Theatre from 21 August and is a sensitive exploration of the vital issues surrounding mental illness.

Inside Out is a powerful story of love and insight into a young man’s mind and his mother’s struggle to understand and somehow find a way to help. Realities collide and lives are transformed in this compelling and touching drama of one family’s experiences with mental illness.

Industry veteran Valerie Bader (East of Everything, All Saints) plays Sue, Simon’s mother and is joined by newcomer Benn Welford (a recent NIDA graduate) who plays Simon, the nineteen-year-old son.

Sue and Simon have always been close. Simon is talented, smart and loving—the perfect son, but creeping up on Sue is the realisation that something is wrong. The play traces the journey from the onset of Simon’s symptoms, through to treatment and hope for the future.

Winner of the 2008 Rodney Seaborn Playwright’s Award, Inside Out is an honest portrayal of mental illness which has the potential to assist in affecting attitudes towards those with health issues and producer Christine Dunstan claims that Inside Out is a testament to how good theatre can make a real difference to people’s lives.

The 2009 Sydney premiere of Inside Out attracted acclaim from a diverse range of figures including Mental Health and Education leaders. One of the supporters included NSW Governor Marie Bashir who believes that productions like Inside Out help societies understand and change pre-conceived attitudes towards mental illness.

“…Inside Out is an honest and meticulously researched depiction of mental illness and can assist in effecting change in attitude towards those with serious mental health problems,” Bashir said.