Pioneering performance by Acting Up Special Stars

20 October 2008
An audience of more than 200 adults and children packed into the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre in Wellington on Saturday 18 October to see the pioneering performance of The Dream Working by Acting Up Special Stars.

The  show was the first Wellington production in which all the cast members had learning or intellectual disabilities. Devised with members of the Wellington branch of Acting Up Special Stars, it was the result of two years of regular drama and music sessions with the group.

The group will also be performing excerpts from the show at Te Papa on Saturday 6 December as part of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (on 3 December).

Director Madeline McNamara describes the project as a big, wonderful experiment – partly improvised, partly structured. “Throughout the process, we encouraged the cast to be autonomous. It was also a chance for the audience to experience something special.

“The most wonderful thing was seeing the cast share a new theatrical culture with their audience, breaking some conventions and inventing new ones. I loved the freedom they had to work with the audience. There was sheer magic and moments of comic genius.”

Audience participation

The show included music, dance, drama, comedy, clowning and audience participation. There was also 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.

Audience member Caroline Newson described the show as an "innovative, touching and very funny" presentation. "Some of the actors were natural performers but for others, it was obviously a challenge to be up on stage. However, they all seemed to be enjoying themselves.  I couldn't be quite sure what was scripted and what was impromptu but the unexpected moments were wonderful. It was also really special to hear from some of the performers at the end of the show, which illustrated how important Acting Up is to them."

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.

Among the audience were members of the Lower Hutt branch of Acting up Special Stars.  It will be their turn to perform on stage to family and friends on 29 November at the St James Anglican Church hall.

Community event

“It was a real community event and great to see everyone having a good time,” 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.

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 was provided 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.