MindPlay is an annual drama competition for Year 11 students from across the Hunter and surrounds that encourages students to explore mental health issues through performance. Seventeen schools took part in this year’s event. 

In taking out the top spot at the grand final, Bulahdelah Central School students won $1000 in prize money, which had been donated by Rotary. 

Students presented a thought-provoking short play titled ‘The Ride of Your Life’, which they had written on Orthorexia Nervosa, a newly recognised eating disorder that causes people to obsess about food, healthy eating and reading food labels.

The play had to feature the school environment, three quotes given by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health and information on how to provide support to students with mental illness.

‘The Ride of Your Life’ focused on Chloe Shultz’s personal stories and her struggle with being a teenager in 2015 in a media-obsessed society. 

The class thanked counsellor Rob Browne and many other teachers and students who shared their expertise and experiences to help shape the play and give it authenticity. Bulahdelah Central School, its staff and students featured strongly in the script.

The students found the process rewarding, learning about a mental illness in depth and innovatively sharing this information through the performing arts lens.

The students worked exceptionally well as a team, stripping back the bells and whistles for a raw and powerful performance. 

Student voices were confident yet sincere as they engaged and enlightened the audience with the symptoms and effects of Orthorexia Nervosa.

The talented team included Chloe Shultz, Kyle Shultz, McKelty-Ray Searle, Ruby Keys, Launa White, Shannelle Russell and Kant Richardson.  Sarah Rooney from Year 10 was commended for her work in replacing a sick student at the last minute.

Congratulations also goes to Jaimii Gardner-Carroll and Joshua Collins for their earlier participation at the Taree Eisteddfod and in the heats of the MindPlay festival.