Hales who has Down syndrome, stars and co-wrote You Know We Belong Together. This acclaimed play will be on at the Sydney Opera House from September 6-10, set in a replica setting around the TV soap opera Home and Away.
What do you think would make theatre more accessible to artists and audiences with disability?
I’m hoping that productions like You Know We Belong Together can help change the perceptions of the industry in terms of casting and employing people with disabilities in mainstream TV, film and theatre. I want to see people with disabilities’ stories as the main story, and see people with an actual disability, play the role. For this to become a reality we need to convince casting and theatre directors, TV and film executives that this is the right plan of action, and that this representation not only reflects what the community needs, but also can be entertaining and life changing for artists and audiences with a disability.
I also would like theatre companies and festivals to take a risk and make the time to find out how they can be inclusive. To commit to inclusion and supporting artists with disability is a great start.
How is theatre empowering for artists with disability?
Theatre can move people, and this is a warm-hearted show that explores love, acceptance and belonging through the eyes of seven people who live with Down syndrome. You will meet them all and they tell their stories with humour and honesty.
We hope that you will take away an insight into what it’s like to live with Down syndrome, the joys of parenting children with Down syndrome and how this has changed in recent times. Creating the play has also taught me to believe in yourself and your community and never give up. I love being Down syndrome and I love my Down syndrome community. The arts and theatre can let everyone know they can make a difference in this world to make it a better place for all of us to live in.
What next for you? Any other shows?
Prior to the tour to London and Edinburgh, I completed a three- week creative development for a new project called The New Bachelorette and recently joined Sensorium Theatre as a storyteller. The company make live shows specifically for young people with disability and have already performed at the Sydney Opera House. I am now focused on creating artistic opportunities for other artists with disabilities and collaborating with My Place WA on the development of a new arts bureau called My Studio and a peer-to-peer network, CHANGE X CHANGE. If you would like to support my latest work visit: https://www.thenewbachelorette.com