Page 91 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • ARTS

Q&A
Avril Duck, Artistic Director
What is the idea behind Tropical Arts?
Expressive art Pulling down barriers to getting onstage,
acting as an antidote to social isolation
and reflecting the diversity of our
THEATRE FOR EVERYONE community through theatre.
Inclusive Cairns theatre group How do you make the theatre
Tropical Arts performs its latest experience accessible and inclusive?
Shakespearean adaptation. By recognising and valuing people
for their strengths, ambitions,
Words Renee Cluff willingness and caring. We have
a strengths-based approach as
Reminiscent of the famous Choir opposed to looking at what people
of Hard Knocks, Tropical Arts has lack. Diversity is our aesthetic.We are
been igniting passion and pride in abilities. The aim of the group is to aware of our blind spots and partner
people of all abilities for more than a make theatre opportunities available to with groups in our community to fill
decade. The theatre group’s 11th annual anyone and everyone whether they’re the stage and we all learn through
Shakespearean play is a compelling professional artists or enthusiastic connection. We also have a focus on
adaptation of the comedy Two Gentlemen community participants and the group training the whole person.
of Verona, aptly named 2Gen#CNS and has a partnership with Arc Disability
is set between Cairns and Melbourne. Services. The resulting productions are What are the challenges to producing
It takes the audience on a journey of highly creative and visually dynamic. accessible theatre?
friendship and infidelity, exploring Each of the cast members is trained in It takes a lot of human empathy,
themes of integrity, betrayal, self- sign language, performing dialogue compassion, thought, caring and
deception and the foolish behavior of in both Auslan and English and by creativity but this important work is often
people in love. drawing on each person’s strengths unfunded and unrecognised in society.
The performance is uniquely expressive, and ambitions, performances are vivid, What can the audience expect from your
due to the diversity of its 60-strong passionate and poignant. These not-for- next production 2Gen#CNS?
cast. If you haven’t had the opportunity profit productions have been called one They can expect delightfully surprising
to attend a Tropical Arts performance of Cairns’ best kept secrets. 2Gen#CNS performances, swirling emotions
since the group’s inception in 2008, will run from 4-12 October at the Tanks which are brought to life by diverse
be prepared for high-quality theatre, Art Centre. Tickets at Ticketlink. ensembles, to feel connected to the
but not as you know it. Actors range people onstage and to experience
in age from four to 80, come from MORE: tropicalarts.org Shakespeare in a new way.
all walks of life and have a range of

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