A Norwich panto star and mental health campaigner has received millions of views from a video of his inspirational speech in the show.
Joe Tracini was back at Norwich Theatre Royal over Christmas as he played the Good Fairy in Sleeping Beauty and he also wrote the script.
He appeared alongside fellow panto regular Richard Gauntlett, Coronation Street's Beverley Callard and West End stars Karl Queensborough and Millie O'Connell.
READ MORE: Norwich Theatre Royal's Sleeping Beauty panto breaks records
Tracini has built up a big following on social media in recent years for his frank discussions of his mental health struggles, with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Throughout the run of Sleeping Beauty, he gave the same speech at the end of each show to let people know they weren't alone.
After the last performance, he shared a video of it on his social media accounts.
It has since been viewed millions of times and he has been flooded with messages of solidarity and support.
I’ve spent the past month playing The Good Fairy.
— Joe Tracini (@joetracini) January 11, 2024
I always said the same thing at the end of the show.
This is me saying it for the last time.
A moment I won’t forget in a rush xx pic.twitter.com/0iAN5gWQQO
Joe Tracini's speech in full:
“When I first started telling tales, I realised that people only really told stories at bedtime, but I think that’s a waste.
"You should tell stories in the morning in case you need a bit of help getting up.
"A long time ago I didn’t feel like I was enough, some people told me that I didn’t belong at home and that made me feel worse.
"Some days I didn’t even get out of bed, it was like getting up with some sort of curse.
"But I was comparing me to the rest of the world and that is massive.
"It doesn’t matter how much good I give, I’m always going to be smaller than earth.
"Look, I’m going to tell you all a secret, but once I’ve told you, that is that, you will never see life the same again and you can never get life back.
"All our hearts are good and bad, and they keep fighting every day.
"The beat we feel inside, one wins, one goes away.
"We hope that it is the good that wins, but sometimes it’s the bad.
"But either way, each day starts again, and another go is had.
"When waking up doesn’t feel worth it, somebody somewhere always cares.
"We can all add good to someone’s world just by being there.
"All the things that make life special, all the colours, sounds and tastes.
"They would all lose the touch of magic if your goodness went to waste.
"Hope is more than wishful thinking but it’s less than certain sight.
"Hope is knowing behind darkness life is always hiding light.
"Hope is never a decision; you don’t choose the hope you lose.
"But if you’re here you’re never hopeless because hope beats the hearts we use.
"All that anybody wants is to be seen and loved and heard.
"Before you go, I hope you know, true love is something you deserve.
"So, goodnight until tomorrow, and never forget what I have said that someone’s world always gets brighter, because you get out of bed.”
Do you need support? Samaritans can be contacted 24/7 on 116 123. The NHS First Response Service can be reached on 111 selecting option 2.
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