Cast Interview: Maddy King

The reTHiNK Grant team fired a few questions at the cast of reTHiNK Possible Worlds. Here’s what Maddy King had to say. More cast member interviews will be posted in the coming days as we count down to the final show.

What is your role in reTHiNK Possible Worlds?

I’m one of the poets with The Literatti, my character is the Translator – there’s also a seer, a searcher, a thinker, a visionary, a rebel, a survivor and the inventors. My character is someone who wants to understand people and communicate what she sees. 

What is reTHiNK Possible Worlds about?

reTHiNK Possible Worlds highlights the idea that social constructions of mental unwellness are often far removed from the life experiences of people who have been through it. These social constructions have negative effects in terms of a dominant public unwillingness to engage with people they think of as mentally unwell in conversation, in employment etc. While there is a broad and incredibly varied range of cases of mental unwellness, every person that has experienced some form of it knows that connections with people help, every day. reTHiNK makes the point that 1 in 2 people have experienced some form of mental unwellness, so the stigma attached to it is false and unnecessary. The theme ‘we are all human beings navigating the maze of life' reflects the idea that the perceived line between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ is nonexistent – to experience unwellness is a normal part of navigating the maze for many. While many avoid people with mental unwellness because they worry about what they don’t understand, this can have the effect of further alienating people who have experienced mental unwellness, from leading a normal life. The Possible Worlds show asks you to go out on a limb and give us a chance to show you the variety in mental unwellness, in order to promote understanding and break stereotypes. It also aims to show you the magic that can come from working through the maze of life with the support of your group, whoever that may be.

How do you relate to the themes in the show?

My maze is a lifelong journey. I think all of us are finding our different ways through it, step by step. My focus is not on getting out or getting to the end, but on learning about myself and the world through my challenges. I’m learning what works for me, in the things I tell myself and the way I look at the world.

What has it been like creating this production?

Fun, time-consuming, but I have met some wonderful poets and felt my work develop in a lateral way as the Literatti show how your poetry can be combined with visuals, with music and with dance in a way that I hadn’t considered before.

What can an audience member expect to encounter?

The audience member can expect the unexpected. This show is about opening eyes, opening minds and opening hearts. I’d encourage the audience to sit back and think, and then rethink.

Why do you think people should make sure they see reTHiNK Possible Worlds?

Not only for the stunning stageshow and the incredibly talented poets and performers, but because it’s a good cause to get behind, and ideas like this need all the support they can get.

Plus it’s only $10!! Why wouldn’t you?

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Thrown up from the surf beaches of the Westcoast, Maddy King has presently found her feet as an erratic linguistic artist and a student at Auckland University, studying the effect that the media has on this country. She loves poetry for its ability to express personal truths and show that everyone’s internal selves are invaluable. She recently performed at the Town Hall as part of the Rising Voices slam.

reTHiNK Possible Worlds opens on October 14 for three shows across two days. Tickets are on sale at www.theliteratti.com with limited door sales for each session.