Street closures around the NAC during National Remembrance Day Ceremony

Act of sisterhood and benevolence

On World Mental Health Day, Safia Nolin and Debbie Lynch-White discuss hatred, pride, and the art of listening 

In mid-November, Théâtre Prospero’s Surveillée et punie is presented in the Azrieli Studio – a powerful choral work based entirely on the hateful comments that folk singer Safia Nolin receives constantly. 

The NAC’s National Creation Funds supported the production. Director Sarah Conn recently stated: “friction interrupts pattern and allows something new to emerge.” The Surveillée et punie team understands this well: loudly and proudly turning all the vitriol into song, the performers help banish it, as well as shatter the naïve belief that we are growing more tolerant as a society.

For World Mental Health Day, we met with Safia and Debbie (who plays her alter ego on stage) to learn more about how this show provided them and audiences an outlet for growth and to hear their advice for people struggling with mental health issues.


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