Twenty performers living with disability have taken centre stage at the Gold Coast's $130-million arts precinct, which organisers say gives them the visibility they deserve.
Centacare's Running Duck Theatre Company has spent 12 months developing and practising the production called John Red Kelly, with the support of seven carers.
"It's not as easy as it looks," lead actor Joshua Orme said.
"With the script, where you need to be at, the places, and who your partner is."
The production — funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme — depicts a 19th century prison ship full of convicts celebrating their Irish heritage.
But the show, performed at Home Of The Arts (HOTA), is more than just song and dance.
Fostering 'empowerment'
Centacare's Erika Woods, one of the drama program's facilitators, said "everyone deserves to be on a professional stage".
"I just love what it can bring out in people," she said.
"Confidence, empowerment, social, fine and gross motor skills.
"Just a feeling of establishment and empowerment that they can do this and people actually want to see them."
Ms Woods said the production is "100 per cent their show", with the cast helping to develop the storyline and characters.
"You learn to tap into what their abilities are and make sure that shines," she said.
"As we continue and become more professional, the guys are learning to be more independent on stage."
Developing skills and confidence
John Red Kelly is the third such performance organised by Running Duck.
"The program can change people's lives," artistic director Clark Crystal said.
"It really has the potential to give people a lot of confidence, self-esteem. They take the confidence they have on stage into their day-to-day life.
"They have the confidence to use their imagination, to create ideas."
Mr Crystal said Red John Kelly has been their third such performance at HOTA, with plans for more in the future.
"It's really, really important that we put our guys in a high-profile venue," he said.
"It gives the guys, our guys, a status which is really, really important.
"The interaction is really powerful between the audience and our actors."
Looking towards next year
Another cast member, Stanley Rosenberg, said he loved performing in front of audiences.
"People like my skills," he said.
"One of my goals is to be more and more famous."
Mr Rosenberg is well on his way, with more than 135,000 followers on TikTok.
"I want to be a performer, more of a pop singer," he said.
"I really like Guy Sebastian."
At the other end of the musical scale, Joshua Orme said he hoped his love of heavy metal could be incorporated into next year's production.
"I’m not into that Irish music," he said.
"It's not my style. I like heavy metal music like Slipknot, Bring me the Horizon."
