SHE - Program Metro Arts

by indelabilityarts in collaboration with the Good Room.

pRESENTED BY mETRO

aRTS

indelabilityarts acknowledges the Jagera and Turrbal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, and their unique relationship with the lands, seas and waterways.

We pay our respects to their Elders both past and present, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

METRO ARTS - NEW BENNER THEATRE

By indelabilityarts

in collaboration with The Good Room

SHE (See us, Hear us, Engage with us), is a show about women and mental health. It’s time for real talk.

Collated from over 800 real-life survey submissions, SHE is the product of your stories - the dark, the neutral, and the light.

You know those moments that made you laugh? Or perhaps cry? Maybe you wanted to punch a wall or just take a nap. Some moments make you feel everything all at once...or nothing at all. But hey, there's always tomorrow.

F**k it, let's throw some metal on and thrash it out together.

3-13

mAY

FROM THE DIRECTORS

SHE came out of many conversations over the last two challenging years about the general feeling in the arts industry around value, respect, burnout, mental health. We were at a conference and there was a session focused on Mental Health being part of the duty of care of organisations and companies and the general feeling in the room was that if they spoke up about mental health that their careers would be negatively impacted. So we wanted to bring this conversation to the foreground. We wanted to hear real stories from real people about their experiences and we wanted to shed a light on how many people are dealing with mental health or illness daily.

Since developing the work – we realised the conversation was much bigger than the arts – this is something quite universal but also at times feels very hidden.

We all know that mental illness exists, and that people’s mental health will have it’s ups and downs through life…sure we know…. But do we understand? Do we empathise? Do we truly recognise when someone is not doing OK? Unless you have experienced it firsthand it feels like one of those things that happens to someone else… ‘not me ’ .

indelabilityarts works with a diverse range of artists and we know not all disabilities are visible – mental health is one of these – we set out to share the experiences of 3 emerging writers who have their own individual relationships with mental illness. Their journeys have been varied, but they share a common goal; to open the dialogue around mental illness and reduce the stigma.

The challenge then was, how do we share their stories and yours? As a company we love a good collaboration, and this is where the conversation with Amy Ingram from The Good Room began. Their process of bringing everyday people’s stories to the stage felt like a natural partnership. So, we launched our submissions website and in doing so we opened Pandora’s box.

Every single submission we received (over 800) spoke of personal experience with mental health and often these people felt alone in their experience.

Bringing these conversations out in the open felt important – sometimes just hearing a story that sounds so like your own can make you feel less alone in the world, more seen and that your experiences in life are valid and real.

‘Of everything I have learnt during my time creating Good Room shows this has been the most powerful and impactful. There is a great honour in receiving these stories from people… of reading their words and holding the responsibility of then sharing them with you. And so it felt right to work with indelabilityarts to collect these stories of people’s experiences with mental illness and to find a way to share them back to the public so that we create perhaps a little more understanding, a little more conversation, a little more empathy and maybe just maybe feel a little bit less shit.

We are so grateful to Jo Thomas and the Metro Arts team for taking a leap of faith with this work supporting us and trusting that we will create something that will speak to the wider community.

We hope that SHE resonates with you and we’d like to remind you all;

‘Nothing lasts forever, not even sorrow’ (submission number 458).

Amy & Catarina Co-directors of SHE

MorganMaguire

CREATIVES + CREW

CO-DIRECTORS: Amy Ingram and Catarina

Hebbard

WRITERS: Bianca Saez, Karen Lee Roberts, Nici

Morey

DRAMATURG: Katherine Marquet

WRITING MENTOR: Maxine Mellor

STAGE MANAGER: Kayla Alexandra

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER:

Krystal Shuttleworth

SET & COSTUME DESIGN: Chloe Greaves

DESIGN INTERN: Joanne Too

LIGHTING DESIGN: Teegan Kranenburg

SOUND DESIGN: Jessica Dunn

CHOREOGRAPHER: Nerida Matthaei

MARKETING: Georgina Bullock

AUSLAN INTERPRETER: Leanne Beer

SET BUILDER: Neil Wood

CAST

Aurora Liddle-Christie

Jessica Veurman

Morgan Maguire

Rebecca Alexander

WARNINGS:

This production contains discussions about selfharm, suicide, eating disorders, abuse, and mental health.

If you or someone you know needs information or support, these organisations are here to help:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22

4636

Headspace: 03 9027 0100

Butterfly Foundation: 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673)

The use of photographic or recording equipment is prohibited during the performance.

SHOWDETAILS MetroArts-NewBennerTheatre 97BoundaryStreet WestEnd DURATION 70minuteswithnointerval

INDELABILITYARTS

indelabilityartsisaninclusivetheatrecompanythatprovidesprofessional artisticandtrainingopportunitiesforartistsandcommunitymemberswho identifyashavingadisability.

Ourprofessionalensemblecreatesoriginalworkthatcommunicatesthe livedexperienceofeachartistacrossarangeofperformancemodesto challengetheperceptionsofaudiencesandindustryalike.

Wefurthernurturethesocial,personal,physicalandmentalwellbeingof participantsthroughourworkshopseriesthatoffersongoingskills developmentandtrainingforcommunitymemberswithapassionand interestintheperformingarts.Throughourinclusivepractice,weaimto fosteracceptanceandunderstandingforthosewhousuallyfeel marginalised,discriminatedagainst,orexcludedfromartspracticesothat theycanaccessandmakeworkthatbothreflectstheirexperienceand caterstotheirneeds.

THE GOOD ROOM

The Good Room is a Queensland based performance collective who use the anonymous experiences of ordinary people to create extraordinary theatre works.

We ask you – and people just like you – to anonymously share with us fragments and memories, confessions and admissions from your lives, as part of a process that blurs the line between ‘audience’ and ‘maker’ to play with the idea of theatrical collective authorship.

Ours is an investigation of empathy, connectedness, stakes and sacrifice. This expresses itself in an aesthetic world that is both dark and light matter; a dichotomy of spectacle and depth. Mirrorballs, rose petals, panda suits and party dresses stud our theatrical universe but totems of party, play and celebration are often subverted; this is richly affirmative, highly contemporary, and widely accessible theatre – underpinned by rigour, ethics, and deep consideration.

AuroraLiddle-Christie

CatarinaholdsbothArts (Acting)andEducationdegrees fromQUTandGriffith respectivelyandhasworkedin Brisbaneasafreelancedirector, actor,voice-overartist,mentor

andteacherforover20years AsaDirector,her mostrecentcreditsinclude:Anatomyofa Suicide(BCProductionandMetroArts),Diving forPearls(QTonlinePlayClub),Childrenofthe Sun(QUT),Poison(EG&MetroArts),SpikeHeels (QUT),theawardwinningWilburtheOptical WhaleandLookMum…NoHands!!!andLoveMe; (co-directorindelabilityarts),BumpyAngelsand DNA(TheArtsCentreGoldCoast),Dolores (AnywhereTheatreFestival),HeadFullofLove (Re-mount&NationalTour2015QT/C),ThePitch &Eight(QT/C),MedeaRedux:Awkward Conversations(DanielEvans&MetroArts), Machina(LaBoiteIndie),CompanyandTheBoy FromOz(IgnatiansMusicalSociety),The LaramieProject(QUT),LastDrinks(Shortand Sweet2013),Un-PC,NobodyDoesitLikeMeand HardlythePortraitofaLady(NDILM Productions),CatholicSchoolGirls(coproductionwithThreeSisters)andMinefields andMiniskirts(MadCatCreativeconnections)

AsanActorshehasworkedwithcompanies

including,LaBoite,QT,23rdProductions,KITE, HarvestRain,Emerge,Crossbow,Mixed Company,StarlightTheatreCo-op,That ProductionCompany,TheatreAnyplace&the ForwardMovement HerfilmandTVCredits includeGirlClock,theChroniclesofNarnia: VoyageoftheDawnTreader,Reef’n’Beef,the DownunderMysteryTour&K9&isthevoiceof SallyinSallyandPossum Catarinaisan alumnusoftheWomenDirectors’Program, MelbourneTheatreCompany(2015),was CreativeAssociateatQT(C)(2011)andisthe Co-ArtisticDirector&Co-Founderof indelabilityarts&BCProductionsQld

AmyIngramisanactoranda theatremaker Amycofounded TheGoodRoomwithDaniel Evansin2008-theirworks includeIShouldHaveDrunk MoreChampagne,IWantTo

KnowWhatLoveIs,IJustCameToSayGoodbye, I’veBeenMeaningtoAskYou,OneBottleLater andLet’sBeFriendsFurever.Asaperformer Amy’smostrecentcreditsincludetheAustralian TourofMagicMikeLive,BernhardtHamletand FamilyValuesforQueenslandTheatre,Joe ExoticforNBC,BoySwallowsUniverseforNetflix andInOurBloodforABC.

Catarina Hebbard: Co-Director/Co-Producer AuroraLiddle-Christie JessicaVeurman AMY INGRAM: Co-Director

NICI MOREY: WRITER

Niciholdsbothabachelordegreein SpecialEducationandPrimary Education aswellasanadvanced diplomainCommunityservicesand Counselling Sheiscurrentlyworking tosupportpeoplewithmentalillness anddisabilityinSupportaccommodationasaClinical CareManager Aswellassupportingchildrenplaced inresidentialcarefromtheDepartmentofChild Safety Nicihasspentthelast18yearsworkingina varietyofroleswithintheDepartmentofEducationas aTeacher,HeadofCurriculumandSubjectMatter ExpertforStateSchoolingandImprovement Department Niciisthrilledtobeworkingasan emergingwriterwithindelabilityartsontheirlatest work–SHE

KAREN LEE ROBERTS: WRITER

KarenLeeRobertsisaperformer/ singer/writerlivingwithandsurvivingbi polardisorder Herartworkaimsto conveysocialandemotionalmessages toheraudienceonprevalenttopics,and tryingtoeducatewhilstentertaining Shehasperformed extensivelyinternationallyandthroughoutAustraliain variousproductions,mostnotablyforChameleon,her cabaretonmentalwellness,andWilburtheOptical Whalethechildren’sshowshewroteandperformsin, whichhaswonaMatildaAwardforBestIndependent Production(2022),twoAdelaideFringeAwards(2020) andaPerthFringeWorldAward(2023).Shehas performedwithRestlessDanceintheBlea IntimateSpace,whichwonaHelpmannA TheAllAbilitiesQLDGovernmentvideo,Th featuredin,alsowonthreeawardsinthe Director'sClubAwards(2019)

Shehasperformedandtouredextensivel indelabilityartsinvariousproductionsinc (2020,2021,2022,2023),LookMum,NoHan 2018)andLoveMe(2017,2019)aroundAus asindependentlywithhershowChamele 2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023)and thetopfestivalsacrossthecountry Hern OtherPhilosophies,incollaborationwithL andJamesHalloran,wasmadepossible theAccessArtsAchievementAward.The premieratRPAC’sStageSessionsandthe CabaretFestival(2023) Karenalsodelive andperformedattheInternationalConfe DisabilityandDiversityheldinHawaii(201 MC’edatvariouseventsaroundBrisbane characters Karenisthrilledtobepartoft

BIANCA SAEZ: WRITER

Atage5,BiancaSaezwasdiagnosed withTouretteSyndrome;aneurological disorder,characterizedby uncontrollablemovementsand vocalizationscalledtics.Althoughthe diagnosiswouldprovetoimpartaseries ofchallengesthroughoutBianca’slife, Biancamadeachoicetoriseabovethesechallenges andusebothTourettesyndromeandthechallenging experiencestoadvocateforotherslivingwithadisability andeducatepeopleacrossAustraliaandbeyond In year5,Biancacreatedandproducedaneducational videoonTS,alongsideherpeers,thatwouldbetter informfellowstudentsandteachersabouthowto approachpeoplelivingwithTSandwhattoexpect Since then,Biancahasforgedaheaddownthepathof advocacy,filming,editing,andproducingeducational videosonvarioussocialmediaplatformssuchas YouTube,Instagram,andFacebook Todate,Biancahas beeninterviewedfor60minutesonthreeseparate occasions In2020Biancafoundedherownmotivational speakingbusinessandhassincetraveledthroughout Queenslandparticipatinginspeakingengagementswith variousschools,employmentagencies,andmost recentlyattheQASELconventioninBrisbane.

BiancahascollaboratedwithpersonalitiessuchasMike Goldman–OntheMikeandTicsandTats.Biancais ecstaticaboutgettinginvolvedwiththeSHEprojectand sharingherexperience,strength,andhopewiththe broadercommunitythroughadifferentartisticplatform.

MorganMaguire

RebeccaAlexander AuroraLiddle-Christie MorganMaguire

MAXINE MELLOR: WRITER'S MENTOR

MaxineMellorisanaward-winning playwrightandteachingartist,drawnto MagicalRealismandblackcomedy She wontheDavidWilliamsonAwardfor Playwriting[2022]andtheAWGIE AwardforBestOriginalPlay[2022],theLord Mayor’sYoungandEmergingArtist Fellowship[2017],theMaxAffordAward[2014],the QueenslandPremier’sDramaAward[2012],theEdwardAlbee NewYorkCityResidency[2012],aMatildaAwardforBestNew WorkforPerformance[2005],andQueenslandTheatre’s YoungPlaywright’sAward[2001,2002,2003,2005]

ProductionsincludeHorizon[Playlab,2021],TheWindinthe Willows[LaBoite,2015],andTrollop[QueenslandTheatre, 2013]

TEEGAN KRANENBURG: LIGHTING DESIGN

TeeganisaBrisbanebasedstage manager,productionmanager,technician, technicalmanager,andrecently,lighting designer,whoholdsaBachelorofArtsin ContemporaryandAppliedTheatrefrom GriffithUniversity Teeganhasworkedwith manycompaniesandfestivals acrossmanydisciplines,includingTheGoodRoom,JUTE, FlipsideCircus,WoodfordFolkFestival,BrisbaneFestival, AdelaideFringeFestival,QUT,GriffithUniversity,Indelability Arts,andCounterpilot SheiscurrentlytheVenueand TechnicalCoordinatoratMetroArts InherworkatMetroArts acrossthelast2years,Teeganhasworkedwithover100 differentartistsandcompanies.Sheisparticularlyinterested insite-specific,immersiveperformanceworkandhowthese formsofperformancechangeandchallengethetechnical process.

ThisisTeegan’sfirstcreditedlightingdesign

JESSICA DUNN: SOUND DESIGN

Jessicaisacomposer,sounddesigner,and performingmusicianwhostudiedMusicat theSydneyConservatoriumofMusic. Recenttheatrecreditsinclude:as composerandsounddesignerfor Chalkface(SydneyTheatreCompany/State TheatreSA),CAMP(SirenTheatre Co/SydneyWorldPride),Photograph51

(EnsembleTheatre)AisforApple(Griffin),Trestle(Legson theWall),IsThereSomethingWrongwiththatLady?(Griffin), GirlinASchoolUniformWalksintoaBar(KXTBakehouse), andTheMares(TasmanianTheatreCompany/10Daysonthe Island);assoundprogrammerforJuliusCaesarandThe Tempest(SydneyTheatreCompany);asassociatesound designerforWonnangatta(SydneyTheatreCompany), Random(Belvoir)andCountingandCracking(Belvoir);as Composer’sAssistantforHarpintheSouthPartsI&II(Sydney TheatreCompany);asPerformingMusicalDirectorforthe 2017and2019seasonsofBarbaraandtheCampDogs (Belvoir);asbassistforSIXTheMusical(LWA) Jessicaisalso ArtisticDirectorofSirensBigBand,whowasawardedthe 2020APRAArtsMusicAwardforBestPerformancefortheir workonBridgeofDreams.

CHLOE GREAVES: SET/COSTUME DESIGN

ChloeGreavesisacostumeandset designerworkinginfilmandtheatreacross Australiaandinternationally.Shewasborn andtrainedonthelandoftheWurundjeriof theKulinnationandisnowbasedonthe landofTurrbalpeople Chloeacknowledges allelderspast,presentandemergingand

thestrongtraditionofstorytellinginthisland.Shestudiedat VictorianCollegeoftheArtscompletingabacheloroftheatre productionin2008 Hertheatreworkhasseenherdesignfor companiesincludingBelvoir,Malthouse,ChunkyMove, MelbourneTheatreCompany,Redstitch,LaBoite,Dance NorthandJuilliard Inthefilmindustry,shehasworkedwith companiesincludingMadmanProductions,TheDirectors Group,PixelKitchen,Ottoempire,PanchoandGuilty ShehasdesignedmusicvideosforartistsincludingGuy Sebastian,AlisonWonderland,DZDeathrays,Montaigneand SanSisco From2017-2019shewasapanelistforthe GreenroomAwardsTheatreCompaniespanelIn2021-2022 ChloewasthedesignerinresidenceatLaBoiteTheatre.She hasbeennominatedformultipleGreenroomandMatilda awards SheisamemberoftheAustralianProductionDesign Guild

laisanemergingproduction&stage nager.Asafreelancingmulticiplinaryartsworker Shehasworked hnumerousartscompanies&events ossAustralia,includingQueensland tryFestival,ThePlantingFestival, baneWritersFestival,Creative Generation,BleachFestival,ViralVentures,Broad Encounters,VenaCavaProductions,EveryBODYNow, SharehouseTheatreCompany,QueenslandShakespeare EnsembleandPipTheatre Kaylahasworkedasaresearch assistantinQUT’sCreativeIndustriesfellowshipfaculties, andalsocurrentlyworkswithGriffithUniversityasa sessionalacademic.Thisisherfirstexperienceworking withindelabilityarts

KRYSTAL SHUTTLEWORTH: ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

KrystalShuttleworthcompletedher AdvancedDiplomainScreenandMedia fromNewYorkFilmAcademyin2015and sincethenhasgainedexperiencebothin frontandbehindthecamera.

In2021KrystalbecamethedirectorofThe ScreenItInternationalFilmFestival,withthegoalof providingaspiringfilmmakersofallabilitiesaplatformto showcasetheirprojects Krystalisdeterminedtohelp createaspaceofpositivityandacceptancefor underrepresentedartists

KAYLA ALEXANDRA: STAGE MANAGER

AURORA LIDDLECHRISTIE

AuroraisaMeanjinbasedmultidisciplinary artist,expressingthroughtheformsofmusic, poetry,performanceandplaywriting Withtwo strongculturalinfluencesherArrernteandAfroCaribbeanrootsguidethethemescentraltoher work,suchasidentity,decolonisation,healing, homeandcountry.GraduatingfromQUTwitha BachelorofFineArtsin2017,Aurorahassince workedextensivelythroughoutthecreative industrieswithorganisationssuchasLaBoite TheatreCompany,QPAC,PlayLab,DigiYouth Arts,QueenslandMusicFestivalandmore

JESSICA VEURMAN CAST

JessicahasaBA(Drama)fromQUT.Hertheatrecredits include;ThatProductionCompany:KillClimateDeniers, Yielding;LegsonTheWall&DeadPuppetSociety: HoldingAchilles(Understudy);UmberProductions:Water Wars;QueenslandTheatre:Seedingbed,DivingforPearls (playreading),LetTheSunShine(playreading);Dogsin theRoof:PostOfficeRose,andTN!,SonsofManix.Jessica receivedaMatildaAwardforactingin2007andgained nominationsin2011and2018.HerFilmandTelevision creditsinclude,Don’tTellMeYouLoveMe,BeforeWe’re Gone,IcarusinLove,IronSky,InspectorGadget2,CODE 1115andFindingHope Jessicaworksconsistentlyasan actorinthecorporatetrainingenvironment Jessicahas alsotaughtDramaatGriffithUniversityforover25years andcompletedaResearchMastersin2020exploringthe workoftheactorintheeducationalcontext

MORGAN MAGUIRE

MorganMaguireisaprofessionalactressandvoice-over artistbasedinBrisbane SincegraduatingfromtheNIDA actingdegreein2010,Morganhasbeenactivewithinthe Australianfilmandtheatreindustries,withhighlights includingappearingonstagewithJohnCleeseforthe SydneyOperaHouseComedyGala,actinginPJHogan’s featurefilmMentalandplayingavarietyofcomicrolesin theMelbourneTheatreCompany/NEON,GreenRoom awardwinningproductionofTheSovereignWife Morgan hasalsoappearedinMKA'sproductionofLordWillingAnd TheCreekDon'tRiseforMelbourneTheatreCompany NeonFestival,LittleOnesDraculaatTheatreworks,Hidden SydneyaspartofVividFestivalandHomeInvasionatthe

Old505 ShemostrecentlynarratedtheIMAX documentary-TheGreatBarrierReefandappearedin SignificantOthersfortheABC Morganwasa2013 ARTSTARTAustraliaCouncilrecipientandwontheIan PotterCulturalTrustfellowshipin2014 In2019Morganwas nominatedforaSydneyTheatreAwardforBest SupportingActressinanIndependentProductionforher roleinHomeInvasion

REBECCA ALEXANDER

RebeccaisCo-ArtisticDirectorandCo-Founderof indelabilityarts SheholdsbothActing(USQ)andEducation degreesandcurrentlyworksasanactor,workshopfacilitator, produceranddirector Asadirector,Rebecca’smajortheatre creditsincludeLookMum NoHands!!!(indelabilityarts;CoDirector)&Loveme; Rebeccawasalsoco-artisticdirector andactorofawardwinningThreeSistersproductions(Bronte& CatholicSchoolGirls).AfterlivingintheUKandimmersing herselfinavarietyofdiversetheatrepracticesRebecca returnedtoBrisbaneandspentayeartouringforShake&Stir TheatreCompanyperformingworkssuchasMacbeth,Romeo andJuliet,Statespeare,TragicMagic,BardtotheBone,Popular, SayittomyFacebook,Hamlet(2013)andhasworkedwith QueenslandTheatreCompanyasaworkshopartistand performedandtouredwithDebaseProductionsin2009with theirshowSnagged.Othertheatrecreditsincludeworkingwith LaBoiteTheatreCompany(SummerWonderland)nominated foraMatildaaward,DebaseProductions,4MBSClassicFM (MuchAdoAboutNothing),QLDArtsCouncil(Sensational Harry,Idotluvdotu)andCementBoxTheatre Rebeccahasalso beeninvolvedwithnumerouscreativedevelopmentsandplay readingsthroughoutBrisbane Rebecca'sfilmcreditsincludeA HoodintheWoodsandLeaderofthePack

JessicaVeurman

RebeccaAlexander NeridaMatthaei AuroraLiddle-Christie AmyIngram JessicaVeurman MorganMaguire AuroraLiddle-Christie RebeccaAlexander

THANK YOU!

JoThomas,DanielleCarneyandthewholeteamatMetroArtsfortakingaleapoffaithwiththisworkbuildingashowfromscratchandlettingusbeartists&trustingthatwewillcreatesomethingthatwill speaktothewidercommunity

HugethankyoutoCounterpilot;NathanSibthorpe;LisaWilson;JohnFelmingham;Christine Felmingham;LaBoitetheatre;RedlandPerformingArtsCentre;PIPTheatre;NeilWood;DanEvans; QueenslandTheatre;PlayLab;CiendaMcNamara;ZoeHoughton;BarbaraLowing;Ell-LeighAckerman; KirstenBaade;ConnorRoss;JessicaTanzerFredericks;CaraDunstan

Thankstoeveryonewhosubmittedtheirstories

MorganMaguire RebeccaAlexander AuroraLiddle-Christie

WANT TO SUPPORT INDELABILITYARTS?

indelabilityartsisthankfulfortheongoingsupport fromtheBrisbaneandAustralia-widecommunity.The kindnessofourdonorsassistsusindevelopingnew shows,touringexistingshows,continuingvaluable communityworkshopsandtrainingopportunities,and itallowsustocollaboratewithandprovideworkfor disabledartists.

Asanot-for-profitorganisation,these achievementswouldnotbepossiblewithoutthe generoussupportofourcommunityandpartners. Weareimmenselyproudtoacceptdonationsto solidifyaccessibletheatreforourcommunityof artistsandtocreatesustainableemploymentand trainingopportunitiesforartistswithdisability. Furtherdonationstoindelabilityartswillensurewe cancontinuetheworkwedoandpromote inclusiveandaccessibletheatreasavitalaspect ofAustralia'sartssector.