The Elephant-in-the-Room Series® 

Bringing isolating issues out in the open through healthy dialogue.

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Created in 2017, EITR presents play readings and community conversations about topics that we, as a society, often feel uncomfortable discussing. Following the video or reading, a facilitated audience conversation focuses on attitudes about difficult ethical issues involved, and our responsibility as a society to bring these issues out of the shadows and into the cultural mainstream.  As an integral aspect of each EITR presentation, NHTP collaborates with multiple social service organizations to develop these programs, and provide resources for getting help or accessing further education.

In the current climate of alienation and miscommunication, these events use live theatre to create a safe and nurturing environment that encourages courageous and transformational conversations about our hidden "elephants," and emphasizes the importance of building empathy by looking at multiple points of view, much as the fabled "blind men" trying to understand the elephant in their own way.

WATCH: WHAT IS THE ELEPHANT-IN-THE-ROOM SERIES®?

Congratulations to all the 2021 NH Governor's Arts Award recipients! We are delighted to have the Elephant-in-the-Room Series® in the spotlight. Thank you to our EITR Advisory Board, the talented artists who write and perform, our esteemed expert panelists, our funders and sponsors, and the brave audiences who share their stories and participate in EITR discussions throughout the state.

Watch the Arts in Health Award Video Courtesy of NH State Council on the Arts Here

TESTIMONIALS

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The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation says that New Hampshire Theatre Project : “uses theatre to bring people together to talk about immensely difficult things and connect people with resources available to help…. Community happens when it’s safe to talk about the hard things.”

"At Seacoast Mental Health Center, one of our goals is to “normalize” the conversation about critical health-related topics and experiences, which theater supports. It creates a more accepted and safe public space where people can share their personal stories of suffering and loss resulting from substance misuse, suicide, or other behavioral health experiences.  The telling and sharing helps deepen healing for these individuals by building a community of support in the places they typically gather in their hometowns and regions. Such public settings, even if done virtually, invite in people who may not be personally affected by the health topic being addressed, but who benefit from listening, making human connections, and developing empathy for others in their community. NHTP’s Elephant-in-the-Room® Series has demonstrated their commitment to addressing important mental health and stigmatizing topics, as well as providing increased access to the arts in such an important manner."

Rebecca Throop, VP of Community Relations, Seacoast Mental Health Center

"Network4Health worked collaboratively with NHTP's Elephant-in-the-Room Series® to bring a presentation of their program A Wider Circle to the Greater Derry community. The topic of the playreading surrounds the impact of the opioid crisis on families and communities. Despite the challenges of presenting a performance of this type during the public health emergency, viewership was significant both for the original production as well as the repeated offerings on Derry Community Access TV. The voices of both the characters in the play as well as the panelists were powerful and moving."

Peter Janelle, Executive Director, Network4Health

CONTACT NHTP

To RSVP for upcoming Elephant-in-the-Room Series® events please visit the On Stage Now section of the website. 

The following plays are available for virtual and in-person performances in your community, organization or institution.

For more information, please contact Genevieve Aichele, gen@nhtheatreproject.org

Thank You to Our Funders

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