What might research and development mean in learning disabled theatre?

On Wednesday 23 October 2024 at 7 pm  |  FOUGARO ARTCENTER

The Department of Performing & Digital Arts of the University of Peloponnese welcomes Tony McCaffrey of the National Academy of Singing & Dramatic Arts of New Zealand for a lecture at FOUGARO ARTCENTER on the subject of What might research and development mean in learning disabled theatre?

From the outset Learning disabled theatre emerged as a community practice as well as a therapeutic approach in the Global North already since the 1980s, and is a form of theatre with a major contribution to the politics as much as the aesthetic of contemporary performance. The key questions of this form of theatre centre on how to handle the power dynamics between participants with and without disabilities and how to frame or present this theatre to the public. These questions also apply to other forms of theatre with social applications which strive to give voice to or empower marginalized groups of the population.

Drawing on his experience of twenty years, Tony McCaffrey has arrived at the conclusion that dealing with issues of "voice" and "power", two potentially hegemonic concepts, requires careful examination, attentive listening and coordination with the people who are seen as marginalised. In this lecture the speaker talks about his experience of working with the Different Light Theatre ensemble and discusses the work of distinguished troupes of learning-disabled actors in Europe and Australia.

The lecture will be delivered in English, with Greek summaries, at the LIBRARY of Fougaro.

Support: FOUGARO ARTCENTER

About Tony McCaffrey
Tony McCaffrey is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts, of Christchurch, New Zealand. He has worked as actor, director and writer for many years. He is the art director of Different Light Theatre, an ensemble of artists with learning disabilities founded in 2004; the company has performed in New Zealand, Australia, the USA and the United Kingdom. McCaffrey is the convener of the Performance and Disability Working Group of the International Federation for Theatre Research. He has authored the books Incapacity and Theatricality: Politics and Aesthetics in Theatre Involving Actors with Intellectual Disabilities (2019) and Giving and Taking Voice in Learning Disabled Theatre (2023), both published by Routledge. McCaffrey and the Different Light ensemble have embarked on an international collaboration around the Ancient Greek theatre and learning disability with troupes from Australia, Belgium, Greece, Britain, Switzerland and Poland.