Restless Dance Theatre is transforming a Joondalup bowling alley into a stage for its production Guttered, part of the Joondalup Festival. The performance challenges assumptions about disability, inspired by a common practice of installing gutter bumpers for people with disability.
Artistic director Michelle Ryan said the idea came from a bowling trip with people with disability, where staff immediately put up gutter guards. 'There's a turn of phrase used, which is 'the dignity of risk',' Ryan said. 'You need to allow people to fail to actually grow.'
The Adelaide-based company, which champions members with disability and neurodiversity, has been running for 35 years. This is its first visit to Perth. The Joondalup bowling alley has been supportive, Ryan noted.
The show incorporates bowling and tasks like throwing and catching popcorn. 'We also work a lot with a task that is different — ways to throw and catch popcorn,' Ryan said. Real popcorn is used, and the audience gets to eat it.
Restless has also hosted free workshops for people with disability and neurodiversity. 'It gives the general public a chance to participate in something artistic, showing that anyone can really do what we do,' said company member Louend.
