A partnership between Accessible Arts and Critical Stages, to support the NSW tour of UK modern classic A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, is educating performing arts venues about access and disability awareness.
Ever After Theatre Company spent a week at Sydney Theatre Company in April, undertaking intensive workshops as part of a mentorship presented by Back to Back Theatre from Geelong in Victoria and supported by Australia Council for the Arts and Accessible Arts.
A mentorship involving eight performers from the Ever After Theatre Company, working under the guidance of Back to Back Theatre will take place in April in partnership with the Australia Council for the Arts and Accessible Arts at Sydney Theatre Company.News
Mentorship addresses gap for performer with disability
In early 2011, performer Tracie Sammut embarked on a 20-week mentorship program to develop skills as a theatre workshop facilitator and present workshops for young people in partnership with Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP).
Titled Acceptance, the inclusive workshop series is the creative framework for Sammut to develop as a facilitator. She devised the concept from her own lived experience of being a performer with Down Sydnrome.
Acceptance workshop participant, Fran Arestides.
Sammut states that discrimination is a challenge.
“I want to use my skills, experience and knowledge as a teacher and be acknowledged for my work, not just with people with disability but to work with the whole community,” she said.
To achieve this, Sammut was proactive in addressing the gap for mentorship opportunities for artists with intellectual disability. She approached Accessible Arts for assistance to develop a grant application to the Australia Council for the Arts and was successful with her application.
With the guidence of an experienced theatre mentor, Sammut is now sharing her skills in the fundamentals of acting and theatre making techniques such as movement, voice and improvisation, with eleven students enrolled in the program.
As for her own learning curve, Sammut has found the role of mentee both challenging and rewarding.
“I sometimes find it challenging to work with different teaching styles to what I am used to and I am excited about the theatre contacts I am making from this experience, especially with ATYP,” she said.
Accessible Arts continues to support the mentor and mentee relationship in this project.
“I look forward to seeing the next generation of theatre practicioners emerge from Acceptance as well as see Tracie gain further teaching opportunities to strengthen her skills and positioning as a theatre facilitator,” stated Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development, Accessible Arts.