Gaele Sobott

GAELE :: BRING IT ON

Writer and Producer.  Wiley Park, NSW

I am a disabled writer and producer. As director of Outlandish Arts, I toured Caroline Bowditch’s Falling in Love with Frida in Australia in March 2016, and produced the UK/Australia creative development of Sofya Gollan’s MotherLode in London in August 2016. Exploration of access of aesthetics was a key component of the development, working with (BSL) creative consultant and performer Jean St Clair. This year, I am collaborating with UK poet, Colin Hambrook, to produce Fools’ Gold, a series of arts-based critical dialogues, workshops and performances on art, mental health and wellbeing.

I am a writer who has published a range of works, including Colour Me Blue and My Longest Round. I was commissioned to write Zaphora and Ali for Urban Theatre Projects’ Home Country staged by Sydney Festival 2017. I am currently in research and development for a new play with access embedded into the core of the work.

I was recently awarded a professional development grant by Australia Council to travel to South Africa and the UK to attend festivals and research access in these countries. On my trip to South Africa I met with Christelle Dreyer, a disabled dancer from Cape Town, and I am now mentoring her through the Australia Council Leadership Program. Audience and artist access is Christelle’s main focus.

Working with Jenny Sealey will be of great benefit to me in embedding access in my own writing projects, aesthetics of access as it may apply to collaborative projects in other countries such as South Africa, and access in my work as a producer and disability activist in Australia.