Arts Access: The Bald Soprano is a show for everyone (no, seriously) at the Melbourne Fringe

AussieTheatre.com’s Editor, Erin James, speaks with Kellie Tori about Arts Access and the Melbourne Fringe Festival 

 AussieTheatre.com’s Editor, Erin James, speaks with Kellie Tori about Arts Access and the Melbourne Fringe Festival  It is a sad fact that there is not enough emphasis placed on Arts Access in this country. 90% of you reading this article will probably not even know what I mean by that term.   The idea behind Arts Access is to ensure art and theatre is accessible to EVERYONE – and I’m not talking specifically about creating ‘family friendly art’ or pitching work to a median. I’m talking about people with disabilities having access to the arts in the same way others do.  The Deaf – who are unable to hear a musical or play or concert – are still able to enjoy the show if it is interpreted into their language. The Blind – who are unable to see the sets and costumes and choreography – will understand the workings of a show if the onstage happenings can be described to them, or if they can be tactile with the costumes and sets prior to a performance.  Enter Andrew Dodds and Kellie Tori – the Producer and Director of a Melbourne Fringe Festival piece which is breaking ground on the Arts Access front.  Their production of Eugene Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano is not just a 60 minute piece for lovers of absurdist theatre in the mainstream community. Here is group of artists from THRESHOLD Theatre Company who have gone out of their way to make this work accessible to both the Blind and Deaf communities, and this (as far as I’m concerned) is cause for celebration.   “We’ve organised for 3 of our performances to be Auslan interpreted”, director Kellie Tori told AussieTheatre.com in a recent interview.    “Our interpreters have been into rehearsals to translate the text and rehearse with us. They will be performing with us on two Sundays and the final Tuesday of the run”, she explained. This is no mean feat, it has to be said, for several reasons. The first being that Auslan interpreting doesn’t come cheap.  “Andy [Dodds] is really passionate about this – and the enterprise has been funded entirely by him. Unfortunately there is no specific funding for Auslan interpreting at the moment”, she laments. 
Tori explained how they contacted an interpreter (Maxine Buxton), organised the translation of the script and liased with her about the interpreted performances.  Interpreting English into Auslan can be difficult at the best of times; Auslan, contrary to popular belief, is not simply a visual representation of English – it’s a completely different language with it’s own grammar and syntax. Translating an Ionesco script would have been a labour of love – but the interpreters, creatives and cast embraced the challenge with alacrity and enthusiasm. “I think Auslan interpreting really complements theatre”, said Tori, who works at the Victorian College for the Deaf by day. Dodds and Tori have also managed to secure access for the Blind community: “We’ve also, through Vision Australia, managed to get audio commentary for the blind”, she said.    “We are actually having an Arts Access Celebration on Sunday 2 October, and that will incorporate our Auslan interpreters as well as our audio commentary”. It is important that people with a disability have the same diverse and inclusive arts experiences that avail themselves to others in the community. It is also imperative that artists with a disability have meaningful career pathways within the broader arts and cultural community. The arts and cultural sector responds to the needs and aspirations of people with a disability, as both practitioners and audiences, through inclusive arts practices. Again, the team presenting The Bald Soprano have come through. “We have a deaf performer presenting a short piece on Sunday 2 October as a feature before The Bald Soprano starts”, Tori said. “It’s a gestural theatre piece, incorporating mime and Auslan.”  It is clear that both Tori and Dodds are extremely passionate about their work and advocating Arts Access in Melbourne. It is also clear that they have the drive and the passion to make this happen:  “I’d really like to improve arts access throughout Melbourne. We have invited ministers and representatives from Arts Vic, Arts Access and Deaf Arts Networks to have a real celebration on October 2, and to acknowledge that this is an avenue we need to be taking to incorporate more events like this throughout Melbourne”, Tori said.    Their Arts Access Celebration will certainly be an event, and I encourage anyone who is interested in Arts Access (and EVERYONE who has never heard of the term) to head down to the Revolt Melbourne – Theatrette (12 Elizabeth St, Kensington) this Sunday 2 October to experience the magic which is created when both hearing and deaf, sighted and blind come together to experience a work of art.  Congratulations to THRESHOLDtc – you are an inspiration.  The Bald Soprano is playing at: Revolt Melbourne – Theatrette (12 Elizabeth St, Kensington)  Every day except Monday until 8 October 2011 Auslan Interpreted Performances: Sunday 2 October, Tuesday 4 October Audio Descriptive Performance:
Sunday 2 October Arts Access Celebration Performance:
Sunday 2 October  Photos by: Yolene Dabreteau Auslan Advertisement for The Bald Soprano