By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE ART of dying doesn’t immediately sound like a top-of-mind topic for a night out at the theatre.
But with the experienced hand of legendary playwright and screenwriter Alan Hopgood at the helm, even dying can become an entertaining night.
After all, as Hopgood observes: “It’s something we all have to face”.
Hopgood is the man behind And the Big Men Fly and Alvin Purple and as an actor as Dr Reed in Bellbird, Wally in Prisoner and Jack Lassiter in Neighbours.
But a “sudden right turn in the road” shed light on a whole new series of issues to attack with his pen.
Writing about his joust with prostate cancer in 1996 turned into a play and video for the Cancer Council.
Hopgood has since become a health playwright, writing 10 plays about diabetes, widows, palliative care, geriatric sex, depression, dementia and incident disclosure in hospitals.
He has been a popular speaker on men’s health issues and positive ageing since the success of his The Carer, which toured Australia with the late Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell.
“It brings art and health together,” Hopgood told the Independent.
“It’s using theatre to present health issues all based on real-life stories.
“Through it all there’s an element of positivity and with that comes an element of humour. I like to find the humour in all my plays.”
Hopgood’s theatre evenings begin with a play running around 40 minutes followed by an open-floor discussion with expert guidance.
“It proves to be quite an entertaining night. People feel safe and relaxed to ask questions and often the forum is just as interesting as the play,” Hopgood observed.
“The key is to get people to start talking about what we would normally consider taboo topics and in that comedy is a great help. It takes the sting out of it.”
Hopgood said the right-turn in his life after the bout with cancer had enabled him to touch many people in the community he might not otherwise have reached.
His Four Funerals in One Day will be staged from 7pm on 26 May at Sacred Heart College performing arts centre as part of National Palliative Care Week.
Tickets cost $20 at eventbrite.com.au.
