provides a welcoming environment for youth, artists, and community members to experience self-discovery and growth through the art and process of theatre.
Watch a video of our storyCity of Portsmouth in collaboration with Seacoast Mental Health and Portsmouth Hospital PARS® present
On Wednesday, October 14 at 6:30 pm, the City of Portsmouth will present a reading of the play Final Thoughts by Tim Barretto, and a community discussion on the topic of Suicide & Self-Harm. Co-sponsored by Seacoast Mental Health Center, this program is part of New Hampshire Theatre Project’s Elephant-in-the-Room Series®.
Final Thoughts will be performed by Bill Humphreys, Peter Josephson, and Teddi Kenick-Bailey, along with Portsmouth actors Genevieve Aichele, Blair Hundertmark and CJ Lewis. Immediately following the reading, NHTP’s Artistic Director Catherine Stewart will facilitate a community discussion with panelists Dennis Walker, Director of Emergency Services at Seacoast Mental Health Center; playwright Tim Barretto; and Lt. David Keaveny from the Portsmouth Police Department. Community participants can sign up to attend the webinar and participate in the discussion. The program will also be broadcast live on Channel 22, Portsmouth’s Government TV Channel.
“NHTP has presented the EITR Series throughout the state of New Hampshire,” says NHTP Executive Director Genevieve Aichele, “And we reached out to our home city of Portsmouth through City Councilor Cliff Lazenby. We are grateful to Cliff, and to City Manager Karen Conard and Chief of Police Robert Merner, for making it possible to share this program with the Portsmouth community.”
"Mental health experts nationwide and here in New Hampshire are calling attention to the special challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the mental health of all of our communities. The effect of prolonged isolation and changes in basic daily routines have brought increased stress to all of us; and we recognize that there is a need to offer residents some tools to help protect their mental and emotional health. This is one of those tools," said City Manager Karen Conard.