Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Ever After Theatre is an emerging ensemble of young performers with intellectual disability who are currently in a long phase of development for their next group devised show about games and power.

“The workshops were a huge success,” said Sue Johnston, Producer, Ever After Theatre Company.

With support from Arts Start 2011, Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre and Queen Street Studios, ensemble members were exposed to a range of new skills to broaden their performance making process.

“Legs on the Wall offered an intensive experience of physical improvised theatre practice, and ensemble members where engaged, inspired and are now keen to get their own legs on the wall, now they know what’s possible.”

Providing ensemble members with access to the use of digital media in performance was an innovation of the project. Sydney based multi-media artist Sasha Cohen collaborated on this aspect of the project after his involvement with the company in 2010, during a professional development exchange with Back to Back Theatre.

“Providing access to excellence in physical theatre practice and combining the use of digital media, enables our company to create new pathways and possibilities for ensemble members. It’s exciting to be engaging with a range of partners to achieve this,” Sue explains.

Legs on the Wall is one of Australia’s premier physical theatre companies and offers expertise in skills development and a uniquely physical approach to performance making.

Simone O’Brien, Artistic Associate for Legs on the Wall, facilitated the workshops.  Expanding her approach to offer a spontaneous and inclusive process enriched the experience for herself and for the ensemble members on a number of levels.

“It was really fascinating to play with the participants expectations of what their bodies can and can't do, each with their own unique stories to tell, their own ways of moving and their own ways of seeing,” Simone said.

“Working with the camera allowed us to research and develop a performance language for both screen and live performance. The workshops were an exciting exploration into the nexus of technology, performance, ability and arts practice. The conversation is still in its early stages, however it feels as if there is a convergence of arts practitioners and the disability community, both emerging and professional, who are excited to explore the potential further.”