Merrigong's permanent company of neuro-diverse professional actors, The Strangeways Ensemble, was established in association with the Disability Trust in 2018. This month the ensemble returns to the IPAC with a funny and thought-provoking new show, Something That Happened.
“We've been doing a yearly cabaret and a main stage show every two years with Merrigong, and then filling the rest of the year with smaller projects, to keep our acting going,” cast member Jordan Bowater said.
Their current production, running at the IPAC from 16-23 September, is an innovative exploration of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, which serves as the launchpad for a deeper conversation on the representation of diverse people in media.
The premise revolves around a hypothetical scenario: an open casting call for a diverse cast for a new film adaptation of the classic story Of Mice and Men. Throughout the show, each ensemble member delves into their own thoughts on it and whether they would audition for the film.
Jordan said: "I know personally, myself, I probably wouldn’t go for a role like that. While I appreciate that we live in such a diverse climate, sometimes it can be quite tokenistic when Hollywood studios do this. To me, sometimes it feels like pandering. Write full roles for people that are different instead of just trying to shoe-horn something in."
The performers all play themselves in Something That Happened and to add an additional layer of authenticity, the ensemble decided to set the scenes in the rehearsal space that they regularly work within.
"We wanted to give people a glimpse of how we work and create," Jordan said.
He described their rehearsal process as incredibly collaborative and refreshing, where each member contributes ideas and decisions are made through a collective lens. Adding the rehearsal room as the framework of the show allows audiences to witness an honest portrayal of The Strangeways Ensemble at work.
As Something That Happened nears its opening night next Friday, September 15, audiences are invited to experience a unique and joyful show that can also offer important insights.
“We try to show people another side of a community that doesn’t often get a lot of representation. We're addressing important messages, but we're also here to entertain,” Jordan said.
Something That Happened is on from September 15-23 at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre’s Bruce Gordon Theatre. Book tickets at Merrigong's website