Maddie Little

Identifying as a disabled theatremaker, I am excited for the opportunity to learn from Jenny Sealey and make a powerful contribution to the arts sector in Australia. Graeae is a highly influential international arts organisation of merit and high impact, and as I am passionate about the advancement of disabled artists in the professional arts sector, I believe this residency will have a lasting impact on my practice and afford me the opportunity to further impact the arts sector in Queensland and in Australia as a whole.

My personal commitment to truth on stage is one of the driving forces behind my need to become a leader in the arts, and to help facilitate change. As an artist, I struggle to be afforded the same opportunities as my abled counterparts. I acknowledge the insurmountable experience and the wealth of knowledge Jenny Sealey can offer, and I know that if I am able to partake in this residency, I can help fast-track the trajectory of my career and thus, make a strong and lasting impact on the sector.

In 2016, I graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama). My tertiary experience was complemented by extensive work with the student theatre organisation, and an ambassadorship and subsequent internship with La Boite Theatre Company, my current employer. I am currently in the process of applying for a Master of Arts, with the intent to research The professional engagement of artists with disability and their role in theatre-making processes. In researching the styles, forms, genres, devising processes and rehearsal methods that are most adaptable, my hope is to create a model of theatre practice that professional arts organisations can use to increase inclusivity in their programming, therefore diversifying the arts sector from within. This is in direct response to the professional Australian theatre industry’s disappointing rate of inclusion for artists with disability.

My performance experience includes a number of student theatre works, as outlined on my CV, in addition to the professional credits I have acquired as an Ensemble Member in Indelability Arts, Brisbane’s only professional theatre company for artists with disability. Our first work, Look Mum… No Hands! (The Legless Bar Years) debuted to a sold-out audience at Redland Performing Arts Centre before a successful run at Brisbane Powerhouse in September 2016 and an upcoming performance at Arts Centre Gold Coast in February. I continue to work with Indelability on the creative development of I Love Me Just The Way I Am, a production centred on mental wellness and the experiences of those with mental illness, and the experiences of those around them. These themes share similarities with those found in 4:48 Psychosis, and I believe that exploring and unpicking Sarah Kane’s work during the residency will not only be beneficial for my work with Indelability, but will provide an opportunity for me to grow as an artist.