Impact

2023

2022

2021

2023 (to date)

Productions

Chased by Rainbows: Queensland Schools and communities and Brisbane, with an original story devised and performed by the Blue Roo small ensemble with live band, original and adapted music and original movement. Brisbane performance season and regional tour. Eight Brisbane performers and one performer from Kingaroy to take to the stage. One employed mentored arts worker (Production Assistant, Step 2)
Chased by Rainbows Regional Tour: Scenic Rim, Moreton and Brisbane schools and surrounding communities. Eight Brisbane performers and one performer from Kingaroy to take to the stage. Two employed mentored creatives with disability (Production Assistant Step 2 and Assistant Director Step 1)
Bridges: main production season with an original story devised and performed by the full Blue Roo company with orchestra, Variety Queensland’s Kids choir, original music and original choreography. Fourteen Brisbane performers and one performer from Kingaroy with disability to take to the stage. One employed mentored arts worker with disability (Assistant Stage Manager Step 1)
Roving Reporter Vodcast: One mentored creative with disability (Interviewing Step 2) and two mentored creatives with disability (Interviewing Step 1)
Holiday Workshops: January (Look! It’s my first video podcast), April (Look! It’s my first Theatre Sports)

Stronger Connections

Key production and performance collaborations:, Channel 9 (My Way), Variety Queensland Kids Choir, Simone de Haas, Queensland schools, NDIS providers, the Baking Bunch.
Key disability advocacy and research collaborations: Access Arts, Deakin University, Radio Voice Disability podcast Crossroad Arts C.R.U.S.H (Mackay)
Key work experience and internships: Work experience student (general production, directing support)- Redlands College, Moreton)

Reach

Live Reach
- TBA

Digital Reach
- TBA

Innovations

2022

Productions

Chasing Rainbows: Queensland Schools and communities and Brisbane, with an original story devised and performed by the Blue Roo small ensemble with live band, original and adapted music and original movement. Brisbane performance season (full house) and regional tour (postponed to 2023). Five Brisbane performers and one performer from Kingaroy took to the stage. Two employed mentored costume assistants with disability.
‘Tis the Season: main production season with an original story devised and performed by the full Blue Roo company with orchestra, Variety Queensland’s Kids choir, original music and original choreography (80% house). Thirteen Brisbane performers and one performer from Kingaroy with disability took to the stage. Two employed mentored arts workers with disability (Scripting, Step 1 and Production Assistant, Step 1)

Stronger Connections

Key production and performance collaborations:, Variety Queensland Kids Choir, Simone de Haas, Queensland schools, NDIS providers, the Baking Bunch.
Key disability advocacy and research collaborations: Access Arts, Deakin University, Radio Voice Disability podcast Crossroad Arts C.R.U.S.H (Mackay)
Arts Queensland Grow 2022-2026 Ministerial Round Table invitation. Grow is the second action plan for Queensland Government’s Creative Together 2020-2030: A 10-Year Roadmap for arts, culture and creativity in Queensland, outlining a clear plan to realise Creative Together’s vision for a state renewed and transformed by arts, culture and creativity.

Reach

Live reach:
- Brisbane and surrounds: community productions at Lavalla Hall, Paddington and Upper Mt. Gravatt Progress Hall (main production)
- Queensland Schools and surrounding communities Regional tour (July): Postponed to 2023 due to cast COVID.
- Key organisational and community performances: Aspley Special School, Aspley Disability Expo, Reclink Queensland Gateway Festival of Sport and Art.
Digital reach:
- Expansion of the Blue Roo Digital Hub to include our YouTube Legacy Archive.
- Knowledge Series eBooks: Creating authentically inclusive productions, The social and cultural benefits of inclusive theatre.
- Over 1,220 Facebook domestic and international followers and building. Eight hundred and sixty YouTube views.
- New Media, film and employment alliances: onradio@radiovoice, Mc Gregor Casting, Casting Guild of Australia (Deaf and Disability),

Innovations

New program of holiday workshops for all abilities (focussing on a range of production, performance skills): Look! It’s My First Song and Film Clip (musical parody) and Your Next Step as a Professional Actor (CGA registration),
New Blue Roo Costume and Props Department employed two mentored, inclusive arts workers.
New Blue Roo mentorship program accelerating skills development and providing employment for two inclusive creatives in script development and production skills.
New Vodcast Roving Reporter program hosted by inclusive creatives, developing interviewing skills for the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympics in 2032.
Inaugral Blue Roo Charity Raffle: Eleven sponsors.

2021

Productions

World Premiere, My Life, My Story: Blue Roo’s first digital production, devised and artistically led by Simone de Haas (Queensland Gold Matilda recipient) featuring the personal stories of four inclusive artists’ journeys to public recognition.
A Midsummer Night Dream: main house production (QPAC Cremorne Theatre), adapted and performed by the full Blue Roo company with a professional orchestra, a small performers’ orchestra and introducing Variety Queensland’s Kids Choir.

Stronger Connections

Key production and performance collaborations: Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Centacare Queensland, new partnership with the Variety Queensland Kids Choir and auspicing arrangement for BOSS creators Brian Lucas and Laura Solomon.
Key disability advocacy and research collaborations: National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), Access Arts, the University of Queensland (Education Faculty) and QPAC Archives.Media, film and inclusive employment connections.

Reach

Live reach:
- Brisbane and surrounds: QPAC main house season attendees (COVID restricted), local school performances.
Digital reach:
- Over 1,170 domestic and international Facebook followers and over 1,270 domestic and international YouTube views.

Innovations

New Artistic Leadership Team model (creative vision and production leadership).
New YouTube Channel Legacy Archive.
Digital QR Code production programs.

2020 (during COVID)

Productions

Postponement of A Midsummer Night Dream live main house production.
Creative development of My Life, My Story, (first digital production).

Stronger Connections

Key production and performance collaborations: Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Cre8ive, Centacare Queensland and Access Arts Queensland.
Key disability advocacy and research collaborations: University of Queensland (Education Faculty), National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) Diversity Officer, Theatre Network Australia, Arts Queensland.

Reach

Live reach
- Scheduled public performances postponed (COVID restricted).
Digital reach
- 1,129 local and regional Facebook followers.

Innovations

New hybrid creative development model (stage to the screen and screen to stage).
Creative development of first digital production: My Life, My Story.
Introduction of ZOOM rehearsals.

2019

Productions

Around: main house production season with an original story devised and performed by the full Blue Roo company with a live orchestra, original music and original choreography.
Hotel Pantelone II – the Musical: Commedia del Arte street theatre production with original music.

Stronger Connections

Key production and performance collaborations: Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Centacare Queensland, Red Chair.
Key disability advocacy and research collaborations: University of Queensland (Education Faculty), Australia Council.

Reach

Live Reach:
- Brisbane and surrounds Queensland Regional tour: Far North Queensland and Cape York Aboriginal Communities.
- 10th Year Celebration Ball (Our Big Night of Smiles) Brisbane Entertainment and Convention Centre.
- Key corporate and community performances: INAS Games, Paddington Christmas Fair.
Digital Reach:
- 880 Facebook followers.

2018

Productions

Time to Go: main house production season with an original story devised and performed by the full Blue Roo company with a live orchestra, original music and original choreography.
Hotel Pantelone: Traditional Commedia del Arte street theatre production.

Reach

Live Reach
- Brisbane and surrounds.
- Queensland regional tour: North Queensland.
- Key corporate and community performances: Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Cultural Program performance.
Digital Reach
- 768 Facebook followers.

Innovations

New Melodrama ensemble.

2017

Productions

Main house production season with an original story devised and performed by the full Blue Roo company with a live orchestra, original music and original choreography.
Street Theatre: Hotel Pantelone.

Stronger Connections

Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts.

Reach

LiveReach
- Brisbane and surrounds.
DigitalReach
- 483 Facebook followers.

2016

Productions

Main house production: Orpheus and Eurydice in partnership with Opera Queensland.
Street Theatre: Hotel Pantelone.

Stronger Connections

Opera Queensland.

Reach

Brisbane and surrounds.

2015

Productions

Bulimba Opera in collaboration with Opera Queensland main house production season with an original story devised and performed by the full Blue Roo company with a live orchestra, original music and original choreography.
Street theatre: Capitano Pretends Again, Waddle of Ducks.