Access2Arts. True Ability. Around Adelaide. 21 Jan 2023
Whenever one hears the name of Alirio Zavarce, one knows something special is happening.
For Fringe 2023, he is hooked up with the talented Kelly Vincent and a new group, the True Ability Ensemble.
It consists of very able deaf and disabled artists and, with dramaturgy by Vincent and direction by Zavarce, they’ve gone high tech all over the Adelaide cityscape.
They have injected new life and fresh imagery to old landmarks. It’s a terrific venture, charming, enlightening and clever.
It’s all about QR codes.
And people.
Scan the codes to discover the people. They will come to video life onscreen on your phone - right there and then - to tell their stories of special places.
Hannah really warms the cockles of the old bibliophile heart. She’s enamoured of the Adelaide City Library. It’s “her” place in the city. She’s as avid as avid readers can be and she sparkles with love for books and the niches in which readers can find literary nourishment.
Then there’s Kym. He’s well known as an actor and, surprise, surprise, the Festival Centre is his special place. He loves it because it is rich in memories of performance and there are some snatches of him actually doing that thing. Lovely footage. Stunning lighting.
Talking of good footage, one can’t go past James, the juggler mirrored in the Malls Balls, his special spot.
Lucy’s enthusiasm for the Myer Centre, the city Christmas tree and the bright world of retail is positively infectious. No wonder she is such a fashion plate.
Deeply personal and revelatory is Ad’m whose special place is Hindmarsh Square. We experience it from his wheelchair. He tells of when he found out about his neurological impairment, what a lonely place was life in “the closet” and the joy of finding others who relate to this.
The divine Kelly Vincent also sees the world from a wheelchair but the world she shows us is Parliament House where she had an outstanding political career for some years. It is not politics she focuses on in this city videos series, it is the land of the heart. It’s a wonderful story.
There are more, of course. There is Justine in Hindley Street, wonderful Rachel with the Rundle St Escalator which we all miss, plus Michelle with elephant memories at the Zoo.
There is no other show like this one. It is right off the wall and out on the streets and yet in the comfort and privacy of the mobile phone. It is nostalgic and now. It is touching and fun.
There’s a Google map so one can scan the codes, visit the places and see the faces - and get your steps up as well.
Bravo Alirio, Kelly and the ensemble! Love it.
Samela Harris
From January 13 onwards
More info: trueability.org.au
