New book explores the balance between artistic rigour and care in disabled theatre
16 June, 2023
Different Light performers themselves contribute to Tony McCaffrey’s ground-breaking study on negotiating agency within theatre.
The latest research work on theatre for learning disabled by Ara | Te Pūkenga National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA) Lecturer Tony McCaffrey, has many voices.
Giving and Taking Voice in Learning Disabled Theatre (Routledge 2023) includes 20,000 words from the learning disabled artists of Different Light Theatre. Four years in the making, the inclusion of the voices of the learning disabled artists themselves talking about their processes is something unique and garnering attention worldwide.
The essence of the book is expressed by McCaffrey quite simply. “There’s a huge power imbalance between me and the performers with learning disabilities. This book attempts to shift that imbalance. That’s what it’s about”.
Different Light Theatre is an ensemble of learning disabled artists who started out with workshops in Christchurch in 2004 and have been devising, researching and widely performing work in New Zealand and overseas ever since. The group has also participated in online conferences in Athens, Helsinki and Reykjavik.
While the company has its latest work in its sights - FAUST.US an adaptation of Marlowe's Dr Faustus in collaboration with NASDA degree students, McCaffrey is receiving invitations to speak about their book across the globe.
Different Light Theatre company:
Biddy Steffens
Angie Douglas
Matthew Swaffield
Matthew Phelan (founding member)
Damian Bumman
Peter Lewis Rees
Isaac Tait
Josie Noble
Glen Burrows
Dr Tony McCaffrey (BA Hons Ph D) is Co-convenor, Performance and Disability Working Group, International Federation for Theatre Research.
www.amazon.com/author/tonymccaffrey
https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/politics-society/disability-studies