Acting Up Special Stars will present a 40-minute show, The Dream Working, on Saturday 18 October - the first Wellington production where all the cast members have learning or intellectual disabilities.
This pioneering performance, to be held in the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre, has been devised with members of the Wellington branch of Acting Up Special Stars. It is the result of two years of regular drama and music sessions with the group. Acting Up Special Stars will present a 40-minute show, The Dream Working, on Saturday 18 October - the first Wellington production where all the cast members have learning or intellectual disabilities.
This pioneering performance, to be held in the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre, has been devised with members of the Wellington branch of Acting Up Special Stars. It is the result of two years of regular drama and music sessions with the group.Co-artistic director Madeline McNamara describes the project as a big, wonderful experiment - partly improvised, partly structured. "Throughout the process, we've encouraged the cast to be autonomous. This is their show. It's also a chance for the audience to experience something special."
The event will include an exhibition of artwork, created at the Alpha St Idea Services Art Base and inspired by the characters that each actor plays in the show.
The story of The Dream Working was initially inspired by the Banana Boat Song (Day-O!). The characters land a job in a banana warehouse but after a while, the thrill turns to drill, fatigue sets in and the workers start day-dreaming.
So what would be the perfect job? We meet an angel, an opera singer and an op shop owner, a policeman, a drummer, a doctor, and a dancer, a cheer leader, a cat and a burglar.
The show includes comedy, drama, and clowning, percussive music, costumes, song, movement - and the unexpected. Each Special Star takes his or her turn to light the stage.
"The unexpected is a wonderful part of the show and I want to share some of the magic, beauty and spontaneity that has occurred in the rehearsal room," Madeline says.
Acting Up programmes offer ongoing access to a range of performance opportunities for people with learning or intellectual disabilities. Over the past two-and-a-half years, similar drama and music training sessions have been offered to groups in Lower Hutt and Kapiti Coast.
Well-known artist, singer and writer Amy Szostak is a founding member of the Acting Up Charitable Trust and a major force in the organisation.
Acting Up artistic directors Madeline McNamara and Andreas Lepper created the The Dream Working project with co-direction by Jo Randerson, and tutoring and training assistance by Noel Meek. The costumes were designed by Janet Dunn.
Voluntary assistance has been given by dancer Merrin Cavel and directing student Sharon Van der Vreede, and Alpha St Art Base tutors Aroha Clarke, Sandra Schmidt, Laurin Houghton-Paranihi and Elizabeth Elwood.
The event starts at 7pm on Saturday 18 October at the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre, corner Colombo and Rintoul Streets. Door sales only: waged $8, Unwaged $5.
13/10/08