Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand

Encore for Playback Theatre –next year
	On 7th June 2008 Auckland Playback Theatre did a commission performance for the Cerebral Palsy Society. It was a fantastic magical night. The audience took the actors through a range of emotions, using themes such as inaccessible public toilets, talking escalators, young disobedient dogs and transgender issues. There was even a scene featuring Seymour and Audrey from the” little shop of horrors” I have been going to Auckland Playback Theatre public performances for four years now, and I have always thought what a great way to tell your story and share disability issues. As a person with cerebral palsy, issues of disability come up regularly in moments and stories that I share at these public performances. I thought it would be great for the Cerebral Palsy Society to be involved.
	Photo Gallery
I also wanted to share personal stories of my transgender journey, and the initial idea was triggered by an accidental “coming out” at my art class. It was very difficult for me at the time, and planning the performance was a good way for me to deal with it. The way this story was played back to me triggered a range of emotions from sadness to laughter. There was one story about adventures in Australia. The storyteller had the audience in hysterics. I don’t know how the actors contained themselves and recall the story when it was time for it to be played back. The story took us from Kings Cross and back to the hotel. Daniel’s story was brought to life as a surreal dream. Daniel and the rest of the audience felt it was far more than a surreal dream, as Seymour slithered across the stage. Organising an event for the Cerebral Palsy Society was a great confidence booster for me. Harvey’s announcement that Auckland Playback Theatre night would become an annual event was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience and Auckland Playback actors. A preliminary booking has already been made for next year’s event. By Allyson Hamblett