New Zealand Director Transforms Her Suffering into Mission

Lisa Brickell, a writer, actor, and director from New Zealand, was in Los Angeles recently for the LA Women Film Festival, where ICAP conducted this interview.

In 2013, Lisa directed iChoose, a 20-minute Broadway-style musical about nonviolence and anti-bullying. The project brought together Lisa and a dozen young artists who, after three weeks of rehearsals, toured ten Auckland high schools, reaching 800 to 1,200 students per performance. Each show was followed by open dialogue sessions where students shared their struggles.

iChoose was created by M. Lavin, the singer-songwriter and an ICAP board member, whose work focuses on inner empowerment in the face of violence. The musical production has reached students across the United States (Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York, and New Jersey), as well as in Oslo, Norway, and Auckland, New Zealand.

The production’s message was powerful yet simple: our inner resources – wisdom, strength, courage, and compassion – allow us to rise above bullying and difficult situations. The response from students, school officials, parents, and media was deeply moving, with local news stations filming and broadcasting the program.

Interview:

Mental health struggles run in my family – a pattern of women experiencing severe postpartum depression. In previous generations, many were institutionalized. I was afraid to have children myself.

When I got pregnant, I had a nightmare: a white picket fence shaped like a cage fell from the sky, trapping me. Nine months later, I battled depression after my first baby was born.

Supported by friends and whānau (family), I determined to transform this suffering into mission – to create a play about family karma that would reduce stigma around mental health and help new parents ask for support without shame.

I titled it “Mockingbird,” inspired by the lullaby my mother sang: “Hush little baby, don’t say a word. Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird . . .”

We applied to Arts on Tour New Zealand (an organization dedicated to bringing high-quality performing arts to rural and outlying communities) three times – rejected once, application lost once. A mentor’s wisdom guided me: “Obstacles are a sign you’re doing something right.” We tried again, but this time, despite food poisoning, I flew to Christchurch to meet the director in person. We got the job.

We toured all three New Zealand islands, performing and hosting forums where people, including local doctors, shared their mental health experiences. We connected audiences with local mental health organizations.

Next, we determined to perform internationally – Adelaide (Australia), Avignon (France), Edinburgh (Scotland). Amazingly, a UK doctoral candidate researching theater and postpartum health contacted us out of nowhere. Australian researchers organized a conference for us. After 50 rejections, we received funding from two Australian organizations.

At the Adelaide festival, the venue manager invited us to Avignon’s only English-speaking venue. Family in France offered props and promotion. We secured a last-minute Edinburgh slot. These experiences connected us with mental health organizations worldwide.

We created a VR 360° film with the mental health organization Changing Minds, and a short film with Western Sydney University researchers. We’re now developing educational resources for midwives and mental health workers.

Our short film has been accepted into three festivals – two in Australia and one here in LA, where we held a screening last night, along with a Q&A. Perfect timing for this meeting and our upcoming trip to New York, where my son Māui will perform.

Local people helped us everywhere
huge signs here in Scotland

I love transforming poison into medicine, suffering into mission – turning life’s challenges into benefits for yourself and others. As a wise teacher reminds us:
“Those who never forget they have a unique mission are strong. Whatever problems they have, they will not be defeated.” — Lisa Brickell

Māui: “I’ve grown up around the arts, helping Mum with her tours and films. I love performing. Earlier this year, I did a ‘Broadway Dreams’ workshop, where Broadway professionals worked with New Zealand teenagers. They chose a few to perform at a New York showcase – I was one of them. I’ve made two determinations: be brave, and make at least three new friends.”

Māui also shared the quote that has given him great inspiration as he pursues his artistic career: “We should never decide something is impossible. The power of the entire universe is inherent in our lives. When we firmly decide, ‘I can do it,’ we can break through self-imposed limitations.”