A sassy trouble maker and a tea lover take on the world, through their adventures discover true friendship and acceptance.

Betsy and I: Conversations with my Walker is a live performance piece that follows the relationship between Ivy and her wheelie walker, Betsy. Exploring themes of mental health, disability and self-acceptance. Ivy, the main character, is a young woman living with mental and chronic health illnesses. To help navigate the mobility barriers in society, Ivy buys a wheelie walker ‘ Betsy’ who takes on human form in this show and through fun and heart warming adventures and a little bit of tough love, Ivy explores what it means to be disabled and comes to a place of acceptance and disability pride. Besty and I is created with accessibility as a key priority - incorporating Auslan, visual imagery, and audio description. Further to this, the show is supported by meaningful community engagement where audiences are invited to ‘tea’ with Betsy and Ivy and supported in sharing their own journeys. With a small touring party of 5 this work is suitable for most venues.

Venue Format
Theatre, Hall, Black Box Venue
Technical Rating
C, D
Touring Party
5
Considerations

Access requirements - no stairs, flat surfaces for cast, crew and audiences. Likely to have a large number of people with mobility devices. The show incorporates a digital element - access to projector and screen means we don't have to tour with our own - however we do have this if required.

indelabilityarts is an inclusive theatre company that provides professional artistic and training opportunities for artists and community members who identify as having a disability. Our professional ensemble creates original work that communicates the lived experience of each artist across a range of performance modes to challenge the perceptions of audiences and industry alike. We further nurture the social, personal, physical and mental wellbeing of participants through our workshop series that offer ongoing skills development and training for community members with a passion and interest in the performing arts. Through our inclusive practice we aim to foster acceptance and understanding for those who usually feel marginalised, discriminated against, or excluded from arts practice so that they can access and make work that both reflects their experience and caters to their needs. We have toured regionally and nationally with our shows Look Mum...No Hands! and Love me;

Company Website
indelabilityarts.com

Unique Selling Point

Alexandra, who plays Ivy, is a storyteller, writer & visual artist with the lived experience of disability and she shares her unique perspective on the world through the visual and verbal story. Told with humour and insight the story in itself is unique, – Ivy is living in a world where mobility devices are living, breathing, talking beings and 'support' means more than just something to help you get around. Using Auslan interpretation, audio description, animation and relaxed performance, the show aims to be accessible to all. ‘Betsy and I’ represents best practice in disability-led theatre; disabled voices sharing disabled stories.

Marketing Materials

Digital assets - including website & social media links. We will also have both print and digital marketing materials available. There will be a small trailer available as well as production & rehearsal images.

Community Engagement

From an audience perspective, ‘Betsy and I’ includes quality community engagement opportunities through Tea Time with our Walkers. A post show activity that invites audiences into their own tea party where they can share their stories – tea and cake included. Extended community engagement opportunities can also be presented for interested communities including developing personal stories (story writing/telling), creating a visual diary (visual arts) and integrating accessibility into your work (community connection).