Tropical Arts, ARC Disability presents pirate-themed Richard III

From sea shanties to sword fights and everything in between, Tropical Arts Association and ARC Disability have banded together to create a swashbuckling rendition of Shakespeare’s Richard III.

Tropical Arts has partnered with Arc Disability Services and Tanks Arts Centre for their new production Richard III, showing at the Tanks from June 26 to 28. Cosmo Brugman, Keith Harland, Laxmi Brisbin, Lillian White, Maya Hassall, Angela Bonomi, Alicia Jamieson, Sol Reis-Toaks and Troy Johnstone all appear in the classic Shakespearean play, which has been given a pirate theme by the Tropical Arts team. Picture: Brendan Radke

From sea shanties to sword fights Tropical Arts Association and ARC Disability have banded together to create a swashbuckling rendition of Shakespeare’s play Richard III, to open on June 26.

Tropical Arts Association president Douglas Roberts said it was important to showcase characters and actors with a range of different abilities.

“Richard III is quite interesting because the character in history and in the original (play) have a back deformity, so what we wanted to look at is how people interact with disability,” Mr Roberts said.

The original Shakespearean play, set in late 15th century England, focused on the rise of Richard of Gloucester, later King Richard III, and his ruthless ascent to the crown.

Tropical Arts has partnered with Arc Disability Services and Tanks Arts Centre for their new production Richard III, showing at the Tanks from June 26 to 28. Lillian White plays Richard in the classic Shakespearean play, which has been given a pirate theme by the Tropical Arts team. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Roberts said the decision was made to reimagine the setting on a pirate ship to showcase disabilities and challenge stereotypes.

“What most people see in pirates is actually a disabled person; they’ve got vision impairments, bad backs, one of (characters) has a hook for a hand, and so we thought it would be great to do pirates,” he said.

Despite the serious source material, Mr Roberts said the show was handled in a lighthearted way with sea shanties, sword fights and dances.

“It’ll be an hour and a half of adventure, music, sword fights, battles, deception, a whole range of things, so there’s something for everyone,” he said.

“Even though it does touch on very difficult topics, we do it in a light heated way and steer away from gratuitous violence on stage.”
The show will run from June 26 to June 28 at Tanks Arts Centre.

Tickets are available via Ticketlink, or the Tropical Arts Association website.

Originally published as Tropical Arts, ARC Disability presents pirate-themed Richard III