The latest work by Theatre of Speed, Society, has opened to rave reviews with audiences encouraged to challenge a variety of social constructs.<\/p>\n
TOS (Theatre of Speed) run in conjunction with Back to Back Theatre is a group of 15 young people with intellectual disabilities who meet weekly in Geelong to make art together.<\/p>\n
Society, the group\u2019s first major work since 2015, ran across August 22-25, with the play exploring groups; how they function, how they are created, the dynamics within them and the rules that govern them.<\/p>\n
Tamara Searle, Back to Back\u2019s artistic associate and Society director, said the piece used members\u2019 unique experiences and perspectives as people living with disability.<\/p>\n
\u201cSociety is a sometimes playful, sometimes troubling exploration of social behaviour,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of their experience with disability, the actors in TOS have particular insights into interdependence versus independence. They have drawn on those particular experiences to create this performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Executive producer Alice Nash said Society was a wonderful piece from their experimental theatre group.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were excited to share it first with an audience of some of our company\u2019s closest friends and supporters. Written and performed by Geelong community members with disabilities: it is heart-filled, with a lean elegance and some caucus moments too, and finely performed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe feedback from the audience was extremely positive. An elderly member of the audience said it was beautiful and tears then welled her eyes, that it had moved her deeply, making her joyful and sad at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prior to each performance, audience members were invited to participate in an online survey about their views on groups,
\nwith the results worked into the play and projected on the walls.<\/p>\n
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood attended a pre-event lunch accompanied by deputy mayor Peter Murrihy and said he was
\nextremely impressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was lucky enough to attend the Back to Back Theatre company\u2019s first performance of \u2018Society\u2019. It was a brilliant show, thoughtprovoking and very well acted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI encourage everyone to go along and see a production from this nationally and internationally renowned theatre company
\nbased here in Geelong.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The latest work by Theatre of Speed, Society, has opened to rave reviews with audiences encouraged to challenge a variety of social constructs. TOS (Theatre of Speed) run in conjunction with Back to Back Theatre is a group of 15 young people with intellectual disabilities who meet weekly in Geelong to make art together. Society, […]<\/p>\n