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Winners!

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3 Amazing members of our Tropical Arts family flew down to Brisbane in March to receive the Queensland Disability Award for Arts and Education.  This honour was awarded by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services because of our inclusive theatre model.

Velvet Eldred, Warren Clements and Matty Rundle collect the Award in Brisbane

When the communications officer from the Department called me to organise who might be attending to collect the award, I was so surprised because I hadn’t realised that anyone had put in a nomination!  We are usually so busy trying to get the production up or apply for grants or coordinate lots and lots of people, that singing our own praises slips past too easily.  But bless the wonderful being of Douglas Robins for making sure that quietly, our Tropical Arts magic was in the running…. and you’ve got to be in it, to win it!

I was quite sad when I realised I was unable to take time off the Sentinel Chickens production I was  directing at JUTE.  However this gave way to a great thrill of asking some very special people to go down and represent us:

Warren Clements:  has been in all 6 of the Tropical Arts productions as a professional actor, mentor and tower of strength.

Velvet Eldred:  the 2012 Cairns Woman of the Year who first asked the question “Does inclusive mean that EVERYBODY can be included?” back in 2010 when she was the connector between ARC Disability Services and Tropical Arts

Matthew Rundle: the amazing first trailblazer – the first ARC trained performer to lead the way into our community theatre.  Now each year the ARC Ensemble represent 30% of our cast.

Congratulations Tropical Arts

This award recognises the beautiful human spirit of creativity in community.

That’s every one of us shining on stage or helping to make it happen.

[blog by Avril Duck]

Past Events

Ensemble Training Workshops

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Workshops have already begun, slowly sending the word out to test the waters… and the water is fine!  Between 9 and 12 participants per workshop means that we have a robust enough base to send out the word.

So come along to our ensemble training workshops – the foundation of Tropical Arts community engagement process – skilling up the people who would like to feel into their performance selves, and building a sense of ‘ensemble’ – a team which performs together.

All welcome.

Look to this mans face!

Dates:
Saturday the 15th of February
Saturday the 22nd of February
Saturday the 1st of March

Times:

Please arrive 15mins early to ensure we start on time!
Children’s and youth ensembles: 2:30pm – 4:30pm.
Adults ensemble: 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

Venue: ARC Disability services hub. 52 Macnamara Street.

Cost: $5 for members and $10 for non-members.

Who:  People interested in performance training.  Tropical Arts community based Ensembles are open to experienced actors and raw beginners alike.  All welcome.

What:  Come and experience inclusive community theatre – connect with your own creative impulses and the energy of an ensemble working together.  Find out more about Shakespeare at the Tanks 2014 and other performance opportunities.

Contact:
Heidi Davies: 0430787817 heididavies12@gmail.com
Avril Duck: 0418765588 avrilduck@gmail.com

Past Shows

All’s Well that End’s Well

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This year we have decided to tackle another, slightly “lesser known” comedy, with a title that has become a part of the lexicon.  “All’s Well that End’s Well” is about the folly of youth, the frustration of age and the triumph of commitment (or perhaps obsessive persistance/underserved love?).  Well, at least that’s how we begin…

I have attached the full script in a format you may be able to print out – otherwise go to http://shakespeare.mit.edu/allswell/full.html this link and download onto your Ipad or tablet to save trees.

Have a read.  See what you think..

Cheers

Avril

All’s Well.. Entire Play

Past Shows

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Final Word

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At the close of 2012, Tropical Arts Association Inc has had an AGM, Christmas Party and we are now awaiting the DVD of our production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.  The show was very well recieved by our audiences and it was the largest and most ambitious so far in terms of cast and partners.  There were up to 85 in the cast (varied from night to night!) aged from 4-74 with 12 paid professionals, 25+ school students, 22+ performers with a disability and a great range of talented community actors.  Backstage was just as diverse and exciting.

Tanks Arts Centre, Song Connection and ARC Disability services came along with us for the ride and we made sure there was a place for almost everyone who showed up, no matter how close to the production.  Please enjoy the photographs to see just how colourful and happening it was.

Have a safe festive season and see you next year…Cheers  AvrilHelena and Hermia argument