Opportunity for 6 Deaf and Disabled performers to audition for Specials.
Photo credit: Bette Masters Brown. Edit by Rhian Hinkley. A Black and white rectangular pic. At the left end, ghostly reflections, including a young girl, Beth Duncan, and a table, within a room; on the right, a 5 year old Kath Duncan uses a below elbow arm prosthesis. There is an archival, ghostly feel to the image
‘Specials’ is a new performance scheduled for 2026. Adapted from Kath Duncan’s Specials! Development Showing from Alter State 2024.
There are 6 roles available for Deaf and Disabled performers in Melbourne. All roles are paid.
Auditions are mid-late November 2025.
The performance season will run from late January – late March 2026.
How to apply: Download and complete the Expression of Interest form: EOI Performer role Specials form [Word document 2.87 MB]. Email EOI form to Kath Duncan at superbushpig@hotmail.com.
EOI due Monday 10 November 2025.
Specials is supported by Creative Australia, Creative Victoria and City of Melbourne.
Photo: Kath Duncan on right, sister Beth Duncan on left; publicity photo for Special Pre-school, 1966.
Former Special School students Cheryl + Simon are waiting in a government office to give evidence as the last participants in the hearings of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (RC). On the other side of the wall 3 Royal Commissioners have their own rituals and prep.
As Simon and Cheryl enter the RC room, they are magically and nightmarishly transported back into outside their former Special School where they decide to break in. Once inside they battle the evil Headmistress, creepy Nurse Grease and sporty Mr Ginger. Along the way we learn of their internalised ableism, and the scars of being treated differently. Through a revolutionary and explosive journey, Simon and Cheryl reclaim their damaged pride, defy brutalities + seek love + revenge in a gothic horror-scape.
And we get to find out how the RC dealt with the issue of Special, or segregated Education in Australia.
‘Specials’ combines non-fiction evidence with invention + humour.
Starring a disability-led production crew. Directed by Tansy Gordon.
Cheryl – key character – former student, can be any age 35 upwards – target of the school’s message of charity, resists school’s low expectations, left the school young and feels superior to Simon because of this eg. Internalised Ableism.
Simon – key character – former student, can be any age 35 upwards – neurodiverse/learning disabled student, forced to stay at the school, worked for pennies at the school’s own ‘sheltered employment,’ has a secret.
Special School Headmistress Anna Haldon – key character – age – 50 plus. Old school headmistress, ableist, rules with an iron fist, has a creepy off-sider phantom she calls Cupcake.
Nurse Grease – secondary character – age – 50 plus school nurse charged with personal care, examinations and taking children out of class, carries a clipboard and a stop-watch, her presence should induce fear.
Mr Ginger – secondary character – age 25 and upwards. Male sporty teacher employed as the new teacher/social worker/school psych, Ginger believes deeply he can identify with all the disabled students, and wants them all to aspire to be him. ‘Well meaning’ at its most insidious.
Mr/s Toady – smaller role – age 40 and upwards. represents Simon’s and Cheryl’s parent/s, gender/character switch, perpetually grateful to the school + charity/ashamed of their child, addiction issues, urges their child to fail so that they stay in Special School forever.
