Monash University Centre for Theatre and Performance and Vision Australia have joined forces to present Figment, a work of immersive theatre created to engage all audiences including people who are blind or have low-vision.
Created by Jolyon James and Simone French, in collaboration with graduating theatre students and Vision Australia clients, this is a new approach to inclusive storytelling.
Figment questions how we perceive the world, exploring a colour cycle through non-visual means. The production aims to set a standard: creating work as exciting and accessible for audiences who are blind or have low vision as it is for the sighted.
“We would like people to change how they see the world, change their perspective and experience the world through someone else’s lens,” said Artistic Director Jolyon James.
“With Figment we are asking questions, interrogating ability and heightening senses. We think we all see the same but the truth is we don’t. Through our conversations and collaboration with Vision Australia clients, our team has the privilege of experiencing the world from a different perspective,” Jolyon stated.
Associate Artist Simone French agreed, "Being able to consult with representatives from Vision Australia has allowed us to get to know each other as collaborators and also as people who have a range of experiences and many shared perspectives. It has brought bigger conversations to the forefront about our lives: our identities and our sense of belonging. The rawness has brought a lot of honesty to the room".
"Our conversations have stimulated us to create a performance that offers an holistic experience for our audiences, which uses the full capacity of theatre. Audiences will be immersed into a sensory experience, seeing it through energy, sound, taste, smell, and touch,” Simone said.
The focus of Figment is not blindness or low vision - that was only the starting point of the conversation. Rather, through exploration of personal perception and experience, Figment delves deep into what it means to feel truly heard, seen and have your individual journey acknowledged.
Vision Australia representative Bryony Balaton-Chrimes is thrilled by this collaboration between Vision Australia and Monash Centre for Theatre and Performance.
“The opportunity to collaborate with Monash has given some of our clients a wonderful creative platform to make art, advocate, educate, socialise and discover new passions and we have only just begun. Our clients involved have felt truly heard, respected and valued.”
“Vision Australia feels incredibly privileged to be creative partners on this project. Figment sends a powerful message to everybody who has worked on or will experience the piece: it reminds us that making art transcends disability and empowers ability in all forms, shapes and sizes,” said Bryony.
Bryony, herself a participant in the project along with her guide dog Nancy, has big hopes for the future of inclusive art.
“Perhaps this collaboration will spark the next layer of engagement with live performance for people with a disability. One day, this inclusive process may become a part of theatre making everywhere.”
Click here for details of the performance times and how to buy tickets.