The Incredible and Glorious World According to the Fitzroys

Glass Ceiling Arts Collective presents The Incredible and Glorious World According to the Fitzroys, a new play to break the glass ceiling for disabled performers and audiences at Auckland Fringe.

An inclusive cast of performers with and without disabilities will take to TAPAC’s stage to showcase a new work by Charlotte Nightingale at Auckland Fringe in February. The Incredible and Glorious World According to The Fitzroys was written to provide roles for Disabled performers, and in particular for young actor Daniel Nielson who has Autism. The show aims to flip perceptions of disability and provide a positive insight into life outside the box.

Daniel plays the lead role of Liam Fitzroy, a teenage boy with Autism and ADHD.

“Daniel brings something completely unique and wonderful to this work. His connection to the role gives it so much more meaning than if it were played by a person who doesn’t identify as having Autism,” says playwright Charlotte Nightingale.

With a mishmash of narrative, music, dance and multi-sensory storytelling The Incredible and Glorious World According to The Fitzroys takes the audience on a journey that is as unique as its cast. Millie is a single mother of Liam; a boy with Autism and ADHD. Liam and Millie’s world is unconventional to say the least. Liam struggles to ‘fit in’ and constant calls from the school principal mean life inside the box is tricky. But outside the box is a different story. It is extraordinary and filled with thrilling tales of mystery, magic and mythical beings.

Playwright and performer Charlotte also works as the General Manager for Touch Compass Dance Co; New Zealand’s leading inclusive dance company. Disability is literally in Charlotte’s DNA. As a woman with a chromosome difference she is part of a diverse and unique family having both paternal grandparents and a son with disabilities.

‘I am forever grateful for living a life through this lens. The only negatives I have ever seen are those imposed by society’s perceptions of disability. My life really has been glorious like Liam and Millie’s and I hope this work will enable non-disabled audiences to get a greater understanding of how our life is, whilst Disabled audiences will experience something that resonates with their own life experiences.’

This work is the inaugural season for Glass Ceiling Arts Collective; a new organisation creating work for and by diverse communities. The work is directed and choreographed by Jeremy Hinman, who is currently choreographing the Amici production of Mary Poppins. His credits include National Tour of Cats, Priscilla Queen of The Desert for Showbiz Christchurch and Chicago at The Court Theatre.

A cast of 15 performers with and without disabilities include Charlotte Nightingale (Linda Burgen – Shortland Street, Tanya, Mamma Mia) Adam Burrell (City of a Hundred Lovers, KRd Strip, Lydia Lunchbox – Shortland Street), Katie Fullard (Fleshies, Legacy Project), Sally Brady (Be More Chill, Oddly Even) and Alisha McLennan Marler (Attitude Award Winner, Touch Compass Company Dancer).

The Incredible and Glorious World According to The Fitzroys plays:
TAPAC
28th, 29th February and 1st March at 6pm.
Book at www.tapac.org.nz
Suitable for audiences age 13+ (Some strong language)
With support from Auckland Council Creative Communities