Benched Comes to Midsumma 2022
Image: Images: Supplied / Facebook
After three successful seasons in South Australia in 2021, award-winning queer, disabled actor, playwright, and activist Jamila Main is bringing their play, , to Melbourne and the Midsumma Festival.听
This wonderful example of 鈥渙ne-on-one theatre,鈥� ruminates on athleticism within a disabled body and gives the audience member the chance to reconsider their assumptions.
‘One Audience Member, Theatre Space, Me and a Bench are All That is Needed’
Despite the appeal of a large audience all sharing an experience together, Jamila chose the 鈥渙ne-on-one format鈥� to get their message across.听
鈥淥ne audience member, theatre space, me and a bench are all that is needed,鈥� Jamila, a queer, disabled artist with Endometriosis told 17c起草社区.听
The audience member chooses one object from three 鈥� a ball, a shoe, or a frisbee 鈥� and then receives seven to eight minutes of storytelling attached to that object. This also gives the audience the opportunity to spontaneously engage with the character.
鈥淭his type of theatre is ideal for me. Being autobiographical, I only have to remember about 30 minutes of material. As my disability limits the time I can stand or walk, sitting on a bench to perform suits me perfectly.鈥�
‘Living the Dream’
Jamila, graduated from the Acting program at Adelaide College of the Arts in 2018 and describes themselves as a storyteller who enjoys performing the work they鈥檝e written.
As an active child, Jamila admits that they 鈥渄idn鈥檛 know that an actor was something I could be.鈥� Now as a Carclew Artist in Residence they are 鈥渓iving the dream鈥� occupying a studio in a big heritage building and focusing on acting, playwriting and writing articles, thanks to the Youth Art Organisation.听
Jamila says that they now have the opportunity to explore their 鈥渟trong sense of justice鈥� and political activism as Co-Chair of the Actor鈥檚 Union Equity and Diversity Committee, working to improve the inclusion of actors who identify as diverse.
Jamila鈥檚 screen credits include I鈥檒l Accept, which won the Best Music Video at the South Australian Screen Awards in 2018. Their next goal is to play an ambulatory wheelchair user in either a TV Show or a short film.
Following the Melbourne season, Benched heads to NSW at the Darlinghurst Theatre Company later in 2022.
Footscray Community Arts Entrance Gallery – 45 Moreland St, Footscray on 10鈥�12 February at 1.30pm (15-minute sessions)
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