AMONG the many performers and companies rehearsing for their moment in the spotlight at the Castlemaine State Festival is Bendigo group CreateAbility.
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CreateAbility features performers with intellectual and physical disabilities.
They will perform their production No Hands at the Castlemaine State Festival on Saturday, March 25, before two shows at Ulumbarra on April 5 and 6.
No Hands tells the story about a young man obsessed with angels.
“He wants to fly so he can talk to angels,” artistic associate Kate Stones said.
“The theme of show is a sense of idealism that becomes an obsession before character comes to a place of acceptance.
”It is based on a story from the 1940s called Diver. Music and movement is a big part of it.”
The show features both solo and ensemble work and features very little dialogue.
Performer Francis Bush and his castmates have been rehearsing for eight months.
“It’s really good and emotional. I love it,” Francis said.
“I love everything about it and like being in the spotlight.”
CreateAbility was founded in 2002 as part of Golden City Support Services with the drama team forming in 2005.
They have performed at the Castlemaine State Festival on many occasions and received support from a variety of government arms.
Golden City Support Services community development officer John Willis said sponsorship from Creative Victoria and the Regional Arts Fund as well as support from Capital Veneus and Events and the Castlemaine State Festival took the production up to a professional level.
“We have been incredibly fortunate to have people supporting what we do,” Mr Willis said.
“The Capital have provided venues and technicians to work with, which we could never afford ourselves.
“We have had grants before from state and federal arts bodies but this is the biggest project we have done.”
Mr Willis said the No Hands production had been a year in the making.
“It has been a great process to be working from a story and translating that to a performance,” he said.
“(The performers) amaze us with their commitment to it and way they step up when we call on them.
“All the performers express themselves in quite individual ways and are very creative in their expression.”
CreateAbilitiy’s No Hands is on at the Phee Broadway Theatre on March 25 from 6pm. Visit www.castlemainefestival.com.au/events/no-hands for details.
No Hands is on at Ulumbarra Theatre on April 5 and 6. Visit www.thecapital.com.au/Whats_On/No_Hands for more.