BEYOND DIS:PLAY is a performing arts training programme that nurtures talented D/deaf, neurodivergent and disabled artists, broadening their artistic skills while simultaneously deepening their practice through mentorships with industry professionals, preparing them for professional careers in the arts sector. Over the course of two years (July 2023 – June 2025), mentees will:

• Develop multi-disciplinary art skills such as physical theatre, screen acting, mime and movement, voice, expression and improvisation.
• Be prepared for the industry with skills such as audition preparation, scene studies, public speaking, portfolio writing and creative access (audio description and captioning).
• Grow specialised capabilities through mentorships with industry professionals.
• Have multiple opportunities to perform on stage to public audiences.

Through weekly training sessions (once to twice a week, 3 hours per session, on a weekday evening and/or a weekend evening depending on needs), this programme will nurture mentees into confident, relevant, innovative and autonomous artists who are ready for employment in theatre, film and TV projects across the community, corporate and educational settings.

Fully subsidised with access provided throughout, this programme has supported 9 artists in its inaugural cohort. When they graduated last November 2022, they had collaborated with more than 30 creative and industry professionals to realise 7 thought-provoking productions that was witnessed by over 900 audiences to resounding applause and standing ovations. Hear more about their experience of this two-year journey with ART:DIS, and what it was like for the mentors to work with artists with disabilities.

Prerequisites

• Mentee must be 18 years old and above.
• Any gender & race.
• Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents. If you are based in Singapore for an extended period of time, we can consider this on a case-to-case basis.
• Anyone who is D/deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired, neurodivergent, physically disabled, and/or has any other disability. We welcome any person who is autistic or has down syndrome, ADHD or other sensory processing challenges. Any person with albinism, dwarfism or with short stature is also welcome.
• Anyone who has a strong desire, maturity, and readiness to pursue performance training at a professional level is strongly encouraged.
• Before the auditions on 21 May OR 28 May (timing TBC), you are encouraged to attend one, two, or all of the taster workshops below.

Taster Workshops

Each workshop will expose you to a different way of looking at performance training and unearth the creative potential in you. You can join either one, two or all of the workshops. Please be prepared to experience acting (expression), singing (vocalisation), dancing (movement) and sharings that will challenge you in an exhilarating and rigorous way. Please reach out to peter@artdis.org.sg for queries.

• Date/Time: 12 March, 9 April and/or 7 May (2:00–5:00pm, Sundays)
• Location: ART:DIS @ Bukit Merah

Lead Mentor

Peter Sau is an artist-educator, director and performer. He holds a Professional Diploma in Intercultural Theatre (Acting) and a Master of Arts in Advanced Theatre Practice from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (UK). He is a recipient of the Young Artist Award (2011) conferred by the National Arts Council and was named ‘Best Actor’ during the Life! Theatre Awards 2015 for his performance in ART under Nine Years Theatre. Some of his notable works as a director include A Madwoman’s Diary (2009, Esplanade, The Studios), K (2010, Esplanade, Huayi Festival 2010) and solo performance Tell Me When To Laugh And When To Cry (2012, Esplanade, The Studios). In 2017, he founded Project Tandem and worked with D/deaf and disabled artists to provide mentorship and performance-making collaborations. In 2020, he was commissioned by National Gallery Singapore to present a professional pan-disability promenade theatre performance, Something About Home for the Light to Night Festival which showcased a diverse range of quality performances by disabled artists.