Valerie: Reclaiming strength, love and resilience

Robin Kelly has created a raw and vulnerable production around his grandmother's life. Photo / Andi Crown

It is more than theatre ... more than the statistics which plague our society. It is a human story of strength, love and resilience.

Valerie reaches into the guts of family mythologies with music, storytelling and genetics to unravel a family history of mental illness and catch a glimpse of the future.

It originally started as a tribute to creator, Robin Kelly's maternal grandmother, Valerie. And now in its third year, the cabaret has garnered accolades from around the globe and performed at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Valerie was only 19 when she fell in love with Kelly's grandfather, Graeme. But in his 30s, Graeme got sick - he was diagnosed as a manic depressive and a paranoid schizophrenic, institutionalised and treated with electroconvulsive-shock-therapy.

Valerie kept the family together, but it was a struggle. Once, when she confessed to Graeme's doctor how much of a struggle it was, the doctor suggested she give ECT a go. Now aged in her 80s, there are still gaps in Valerie's memory as a result.

"It started off as an exploration of her life and the things she has done for our family; the ways in which she has kept our family together during tricky times," Kelly said.

"Then the more we delved into that story and really pulled apart the trials that my grandmother and grandfather went through, the more I realised it was actually also about my own mental health and my own struggles in that area.

"It became a little bit of a callback to Valerie and a way of saying thank you to her for teaching us to deal with trials and tribulations."

Kelly, a molecular biologist, quit his laboratory job to found Last Tapes Theatre Company and pursue his passion for music. However, his science background is evident.

He has long experienced bouts of depression and anxiety. Crediting his own creativity, in part, to his grandparents, he began to wonder whether he had inherited some of his grandfather's more challenging traits.

Mental health issues, and high suicide rates, are a big social reality in New Zealand, where more than 16 per cent of New Zealanders are diagnosed with a mental health issue in their lifetime.

Kelly believes it is about having open conversations.

"Within the creative community, we have lost far too many people to secret or hidden mental health issues and we really need to improve how we talk about them and how we help people who are struggling."

Valerie will play at the Pacific Crystal Palace Spiegeltent as part of the Hawke's Bay Arts Festival on October, 18. For more information and to buy tickets, visit: http://www.hbaf.co.nz/event-programme-2018/event/VALR

Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER Suicide Prevention
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.