With Men’s Mental Health month coming up, Nanaimo’s Western Edge Theatre prepares for its last show of the season, Canadian made play, 7 Stories.

Founded in 2002 and located in the OV Arts Centre on 25 Victoria Rd., Western Edge Theatre aims to keep the arts scene in downtown Nanaimo alive, by producing new plays and presenting them to the public.

7 Stories, by Canadian playwright Morris Panych first premiered at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia in May, 1989. The play follows a protagonist known only as “The Man,” as he stands on an apartment ledge contemplating ending his life.

Throughout the course of the play “The Man” constantly gets interrupted by the residents of the apartment. Each time, he is thrust into the lives of the individuals living in the apartment complex. Every interaction gives a different perspective and snippet on each individual's lives.

CHLY spoke with 7 Stories lead actor Dan Puglas on how acting has aided him throughout his life, as he himself deals with his own mental health challenges as well.

“ I was able to kind of work out my own specific problems that I was having through my personal life through theatre, whether that be through acting, writing, directing. I was always able to get more sympathy towards others, but more importantly sympathy towards myself, because I find that I am extremely hard on myself as a person,” said Puglas.

Acting served as a safe space for Puglas, allowing him to express himself and temporarily disconnect from life’s stresses. The sentiment comes full circle with his portrayal of “The Man” using his experience to demonstrate it on stage.

Western Edge Theatre is in the middle of rehearsals and set construction as the cast and crew prepare for the final play of the season. (Luis Zablah/CHLY 101.7FM)

CHLY also spoke with Jonathan Greenway, Western Edge Theatre’s Artistic Director and 7 Stories director on his upbringing in theatre throughout his life.

“It’s my closest sense when I’m in a theater, it’s my closest sense to a church or divinity,” Greenway said. “Theatre itself is only temporary. When you see a show, that’s the only time you’re gonna see that moment, and then it’s gone.”

Greenway explains that each year he attempts to find a certain theme to follow when choosing the shows that will be produced throughout the season.

“Those shows usually consist of a theme I like to put forward, a theme that might be socially engaging or engaging to our community of Nanaimo.” Greenway said. “Last season, for example, we did a whole season on queer theatre and LGBTQ+ themes, as well as women's voices in the theatre space.”

With June being recognized as men's mental health month, Western Edge Theatre stayed on brand by choosing to produce 7 Stories.

Western Edge Theatre is in the middle of rehearsals and set construction as the cast and crew prepare for the final play of the season.

Lead actor Puglas dives into what it means for him to take on the role of “The Man” in this decades-old play.

“The play 7 Stories deals with a lot of existentialism and a lot of questioning, what headspaces are and their own specific values, and it questions stuff from religion, spirituality, alcoholism, and all these sort of different sort of topics,” Puglas said.

The comedic tone amidst the heavy themes allows for audiences to find humour in the challenges of mental health. Greenway dives into his experience during rehearsals and the use of humour in the show.

“Despite it being a piece about mental health awareness, it's considered one of Canada's greatest comedic scripts by one of our greatest playwrights,” said Greenway. ”While this play does deal with real mental health concerns, like the premise is a man's on the seventh story of a ledge debating ending his life, the biggest decision that a person can make. Really. The irony being that in that darkness, there is light.”

Greenway adds that he hopes audiences take away a sense of connection through the show’s balance between dark and lighter moments.

Jonathan Greenway (left) and Dan Puglas (right) prepare for the upcoming debut of 7 Stories during rehearsals ahead of next month’s show. (Luis Zablah/CHLY 101.7FM)

“ I think the audience can feel they're not alone, that all of these characters, how ridiculous they are, actually can reflect parts of our society and our humanity, and we can feel a little bit more connected. I hope that while they laugh through that, they'll also realize, ‘ah, I'm not alone in these feelings and all these people are maybe just as silly as I am,’” said Greenway.

Western Edge Theatre’s last show of the season hits the stage next month, raising awareness of men's mental health.

7 Stories will run from June 5 to 14, with a special preview on June 4 for invited guests and community members at the OV Arts Centre, downtown Nanaimo. The performance will be scheduled across two weeks, including matinee shows on June 7 and 14.

More information is available on the official Western Edge Theatre website.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.