Undercover Artist Festival Breaks the Boundaries and Bends the Rules

This year, as part of Queensland Mental Health Week, Access Arts will open Undercover Artist Festival - the second disability arts festival of its kind in the State's history - showcasing theatre, dance and music that promises inspiring, exciting, thought-provoking, untried, collaborative, obscure and edgy experiences for audiences to engage within the performing arts.

It Breaks the Boundaries, Bends the Rules.

"It's an action-packed program of participatory experiences including workshops, international acts spanning a wide range of genres and artforms, and a place to connect. I am thrilled that we have been able to secure this extraordinary line-up of artists to present their unique work here in Brisbane and to create what we know will be an unforgettable experience for all involved," Festival Director Harmonie Downes said.

"This year the Festival is dressing it up with themed events including The Mad Hatters' Dinner Party and The Last Supper, and collaborating with major touring companies such as Cairns-based JUTE Theatre Company which will premiere a new work performed by 2014 Access Arts Achievement Award recipient Doug Robins - Here we all are. Assembled by Kathryn Ash," Harmonie said.

The program also includes workshops and performances by Australia's leading interstate companies Back to Back Theatre, Wielding Theatre and Company of Rogues. Brisbane's popular Blue Roo Theatre Company, Indelabilityarts, Lorikeet Players and InsideOutside Theatre also feature.

Festival favourites like Thane Pullen, who hails from New Zealand, are back with exciting new work, joined by many other guest artists including Leah Cotterell and Annie Peterson, Tyrone Noonan and Damien Leith, Alicia Jane Steele, Janelle Colquhuon, Marissa Ker and Vulcana Women's Circus.

In 2015, Undercover Artist Festival showcased exceptional, high quality work, over two days, that brought over 100 emerging and professional artists with disability to show Australia what they've got - the first arts and disability festival of its kind in Queensland.

"The inaugural Undercover Artist Festival in 2015 uncovered a need to connect and continue the conversation through an event of this scale, where artists are encouraged to contribute to an immersive, enchanting and empowering experience that ignites our collective belief that art is for everybody," Access Arts Chief Executive Pat Swell said.

"Once again, our aim is to help make Australia known as an international leader for arts and disability.

"Presenting this incredible calibre of artists in the Festival program is such a privilege for us, and we look forward to sharing their brilliant work with our festival fans," Pat said.

Access Arts is supported by Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Generous support has also been received from Brisbane City Council, Queensland Theatre, Spinal Life Australia, Deaf Services Queensland and Vision Australia.

WHAT: Undercover Artist Festival 2017

WHERE: Queensland Theatre, 78 Montague Road, South Brisbane

WHEN: Friday 13 & Saturday 14 October

TICKETS:

Festival pass - $50
Workshop pass - $30 (3 workshops of your choice)

Selected shows and workshops: Refer to program

www.queenslandtheatre.com.au/uaf or Queensland Theatre on 07 3010 7600

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