Entertainment
17 April, 2026
Theatre provides access to disabled artists
JUTE Theatre Company, in association with ARC Disability Services, will present a ‘Creative Development Showcase of Stories Alive’ at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre this month.
Stories Alive is a creative development theatre project bringing to life two ARC-published children’s books by regional artists with disabilities. The project will see JUTE artists collaborate with ARC Creative authors and illustrators, actors and theatre professionals to adapt ‘Jack the Singing Dog’ by Mel Egan and ‘Lucky the Little Bird’ by Imogen Lambeth into original theatre works for young audiences.
The creative team includes co-directors Chris Kohn and Karen Jackson, writer and dramaturg Amber Grossman, projection designer Tetsu Sabata, and actors Matt Raleigh and Velvet Eldred. They will work alongside ARC Creatives, author-illustrators Imogen Lambeth and Mel Egan, and actors and artists Adam Reddicliffe, Aaron Lee, Gabby Benedetti and Mathew Parlas.
The collaboration will explore storytelling, character, visual language and stagecraft, with the aim of shaping new performance works.
The project is designed to support regional artists with disabilities by building skills, deepening creative practice, and providing opportunities to see their stories developed in partnership with established theatre-makers.
The project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia and administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.
The showcase offers audiences an opportunity to experience early-stage development of new works while supporting inclusive arts practice in the region.
The showcase will be held on Friday 17 April from 1pm to 3pm at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre, 96 Abbott Street.
Tickets are $5.
