We are a not-for profit community theatre group based in Cairns, Australia. Tropical Arts engages with and celebrates diversity in our community through the medium of theatre.
Tropical Arts Association Inc. specializes in inclusive community theatre, with members reflecting our community’s diversity. Professional theatre makers engage with our community to make highly creative, collaborative productions. We aim to make theatre opportunities accessible to everyone, whether professional actors or someone wanting a new experience.
Since the Association formed in 2007, over 15,000 people have attended our workshops and performances. For the past 15 years, ‘Shakespeare at the Tanks’ is Tropical Arts signature production. This annual mainstage production is supported by our major partners, ARC Disability Services and Tanks Arts Centre. We make William Shakespeare’s plays relevant and real to contemporary audiences. Our audiences see people like them, creating the world of our plays.
Cleo & Tony
Tropical Arts creatives will bring their personal experience of disability and culturally diverse identity to lead the Shakespeare the the Tanks 2023 production, ‘Cleo & Tony’. Inclusive community theatre increases the visibility and engagement of diverse artists.
Tropical Arts will stage a 1930’s noir inspired rendition of the historic Shakespearean epic, ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ on the 15th,16th and 17th June, 2023 at Tanks Arts Centre, in Cairns. As ‘Cleo & Tony’ are from opposite sides of the track, so too are the communities Tropical Arts inclusive theatre will bring together to tell their version of this volatile couple’s story.
Tickets on sale now at Ticketlink.
Dates: Thursday 15th – Saturday 17th June
Venue: Tank 3, Tanks Arts Centre
Doors and Bar open at 6pm
Show at 7pm
PG Rating.
Box Office at Tanks Arts Centre entry
Tickets $30/ $25 concession
Companion card available
In Tropical Arts 14th Annual Shakespeare at the Tanks production, ancient decadence and power will be reimagined in the depression era with gangsters and glamour. Fusing music and dance with theatre, ‘Cleo & Tony’ will harness a diverse large cast.
In partnership with ARC Disability Services and Tanks Arts Centre, Tropical Arts presents a refreshing theatre experience that celebrates diversity.
Award winning performer, Inclusion specialist and President of Tropical Arts’ Douglas Robins will take up the role of artistic director for this project. In 2020, Doug received the National Aspire Award for People with Disabilities, in Theatre and the Arts.
Tropical Arts has engaged team of professional theatre-makers who have trained and mentored our large volunteer cast and crew to create a unique show juxtaposing frivolity and tragedy as the story of love and power unfolds.
‘Cleo & Tony’ production creative team includes: Catherine Hassall, artistic director of Centre for Australasian Theatre; Ali Lee dance choreographer and movement consultant; Simone Tesorieri and Simona Cosentini well known local designers bringing Italian/ European experience; Sue Kim local makeup artist who works extensively in film and theatre; Johannes Selhoffer local versatile musician and composer.
‘Cleo & Tony’ documentary team, photographer Mike Watt and Sarah Speller local actor and producer, are capturing the inside story of the production process, visually and in audiogram interviews. View behind the scenes photos and listen to audiograms on Tropical Arts Facebook .
View ‘Cleo & Tony” livestreamed on YouTube on Saturday 17th June at 7pm. This is an experience not to be missed where ever you are.
Tropical Arts gratefully acknowledges the Queensland Government and Arts Queensland for the Queensland Arts Showcase Program Arts Advantage grant which has made this production possible.
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
In addition to employing 20 local artists and arts workers, this grant will support participants including people with a disability and diverse cultural identities to gain specialist theatre skilling training. Open workshops early in 2023 will offer professional theatre skills, ensemble, and inclusion training. Workshop participants will be invited, without auditions, to join our large cast for the production season at Tank 3, Tanks Arts Centre.
Tropical Arts’ ‘Cleo & Tony’ Shakespeare at the Tanks 2023 production would not be possible but for the generous In-Kind contribution made by Cairns Regional Council, and a 3 year Resource and Production agreement which has provided stability for the not-for-profit community theatre association during challenging times.
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