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. Tropical Arts signature production for the past 15 years is ‘Shakespeare at the Tanks’. 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’. The transformative power of inclusive community theatre will be harnessed to increase 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.

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 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 Open Day and

Cleo & Tony casting callout and theatre workshop 

Save the date:  Saturday, 25th February 2023

Join a theatre workshop (free)

All Welcome

Where: Tank 3, Tanks Arts Centre, 46 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill

When: 11am to 2pm

What for:  Meet the production team and sign-up;

WANTED
volunteers
cast & crew
no actor auditions and no experience needed
want to learn/ develop theatre skills? 🎭
create costumes,💃  props & set 
crew backstage 🏃 at tech desk 🏃or front of house 🏃

Please share this invitation with anyone who’s interested in performing (likes to act, dance, sing, plays music) or prefers to work behind the scenes making magic happen onstage.  Friends or family supporters encouraged to attend.

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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