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Find out the latest on what’s happening with Rebus or check out our blog Archive by year below

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Out of the Shadows

Out of the Shadows A series of innovative community workshops to tackle the loneliness pandemic in the ACT Ever found it difficult to talk about your mental health and feeling lonely? Fair enough, most people do. That’s why we’re trying something new in the ACT to reduce loneliness and combat the pernicious stigma that surrounds it. We’ve partnered with the Foundation for Social Health and the Centre for Social Impact to test a new approach to tackling the loneliness epidemic through a series of innovative community workshops.
a circle of coloured paper hand cutouts reaching inwards towards a group of cartoon people of various shapes sizes, ethnic backgrounds. One is using a wheelchair.

Stages of Empathy is open for bookings!

Stages of Empathy is open for bookings! Announcing our new, free innovative training program making community activities more inclusive and accessible for autistic people and people with psychosocial disability and intellectual disability across the ACT, NSW and VIC. Rebus Theatre is delighted to present our latest project: Stages of Empathy. This is a transformative, interactive training program designed to help community groups - including sports clubs, arts collectives, hobbyist organisations and special interest groups - become more accessible for autistic people and people with intellectual disabilities, and psychosocial disabilities.

Have your say on inclusion in community activities in NSW, ACT and VIC

That's a wrap for our face-to-face Community Consultations for 'Stages of Empathy'. But fear not! If you dream of community activities that are more accessible & inclusive and you missed the consultations, you can still have your say! Just fill out one of our brief surveys below to share your ideas about what that world should look like. Announcing award-winning Rebus Theatre's 'Stages of Empathy' community consultation sessions for autistic people and people with psychosocial & intellectual disabilities & employees or members of relevant support organisations.
In image of a woman with her hands in the air standin gon an animated colourful pathway that disappears into the distance. Text says "Expressive Pathways'

Join the second cohort of our ‘Expressive Pathways’ work readiness program

Join the second cohort of of our 'Expressive Pathways' program in February! Don't miss out on this free program for Young Adults (17-25) with neurodivergence or intellectual disabilities, looking to enter the workforce, or expand their work-ready skills. This program is only open to people who have left school already. Wednesdays from 10am-12:30pm (9 weeks during school terms) starting Wed Feb 12 at Ainslie Arts Centre.
A group of young people in colourful clothes filming a scene outdoors

‘Acting Out: On Screen’ is back this Summer

We are super excited to announce that our 'Acting Out: On Screen' is back in the Summer school holidays! ACTING OUT: ON SCREEN - A free school holiday film program for LGBTQIA+ Youth aged 12-17 years When? 10am-4pm 10am-4pm Tuesday Jan 28-Friday Jan 31 Where? Woden Library’s ‘The Hive’ Recording and Rehearsal Studio, Corinna Street in Phillip. Acting Out – On Screen is a 4-day intensive school holiday film program providing social connection and creative expression opportunities to LGBTQIA+ youth aged 12-17 years. The program is led by film/theatre tutors and trained support workers who identify as LGBTQIA+who will guide the participants in writing, directing, shooting and editing their own original short film.
Image of three dice each with a letter spelling CEO. Abovee that the text says 'Rebus is seeking a new'

Rebus is seeking a new CEO/General Manager

Rebus Theatre is seeking a CEO/General Manager to begin early next year! Award winning Rebus Theatre seeks an experienced manager to take over the CEO position of the company, to provide strategic vision, manage business operations, and set it up for future success. The position is available as an initial fixed term until 30 June 2026, but may be extended if funding allows.
Image of a pile of newspapers with the tex 'Breaking News - Rebus has a big announcement'

Rebus has a big announcement…

We have a pretty big announcement… After 11 years as founding Co-CEOs of Rebus Theatre Artistic Director Robin Davidson and Creative Producer Ben Drysdale will be stepping aside from CEO roles by June 30 of 2025 at the latest, so they can get back to spending more time on do more creative work themselves in their mutual desire to change the world through art. A new position of General Manager/CEO will be advertised in the next few days. The successful applicant will continue to work the current staff to find innovative ways to use theatre and other arts to achiev Rebus’ vision of a a sustainable and ethical society that is inclusive, creative, compassionate and accessible to everyone. The decision has not come lightly to either of them, and each has shared some thoughts with the Rebus family.
An image of a Queer flag blowing in the wind with the text: Free LGBTQIA+ Foundations and Allyship training for ARISTs & arts orgs/Workers

Free LGBTQIA+ Awareness and Inclusion Training for Arts Organisations, Community Arts Workers, Artists, Friends and Associates.

Rebus is teaming up with Meridian ACT to deliver two free LGBTQIA+ awareness and inclusion training sessions for artists, arts organisations, community arts workers and friends and associates. We are hosting two different sessions at Gorman Arts Centre Main Hall throughout November that will help you create safer and more inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ people in your arts practice.
A Woman in a pink Jacket sits at a desk on the looks on as a man is buckled over in front of her

Stages of Empathy call for Actors

Do you have a passion for expressing yourself through theatre / performance? Are you autistic, have an intellectual disability or / and psychosocial disability (mental health challenges)? Do you also identify as LGBTQIA+? If you tick any of these boxes, Rebus Theatre invites you to apply to be a part of our upcoming project, Stages of Empathy.
A flyer with sections coloured like the LGBTQIA+ rainbow flag with text promoting a series of workshops called Spring onto Stage

Spring onto Stage LGBTQIA+ Drama workshops

Rebus Theatre and SpringOUT Pride Festival present: Spring Onto Stage! Award winning theatre company Rebus Theatre is delighted to offer this series of drama workshops created by and for LGBTQIA+ Adults, Elders and their Friends as part of SpringOUT. Here are THREE, FREE upcoming workshops designed to enhance performance skills for queer folk and allies!
a circle of coloured paper hand cutouts reaching inwards towards a group of cartoon people of various shapes sizes, ethnic backgrounds. One is using a wheelchair.

Community Consultations and Playback Theatre Performances – Stages of Empathy

We are creating a workplace training piece to tour to organisations around Australia in 2025. In this developmental stage of the project, we would value your input at our upcoming Community Organisation Consultation sessions. We’d like to hear from members of community organisations about their experiences working with diverse communities and creating an inclusive environment. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who either work with or have lived in experience in autism, psychosocial and intellectual disability.
A group of people perform on stage with outstretched arms

One day Playback Theatre Workshop/Audition with Rebus Theatre

This workshop is an introduction to Playback Theatre. It will be a one-day intensive for performers to learn more about the art of Playback. It will also double as a casual audition for the Rebus Playback Theatre Ensemble.
A woman in coloured clothing walking down a street onto an arrow pointing in three different directions. On the first arrow point a man in tracksuit jumps in the air playing electric guitar, on the second a man sits playing acoustic guitar, on the third a man plays saxophone

Crossroads Mental Health Festival

This October, in honor of Mental Health Month, Rebus Theatre is proud to present the Crossroads Festival, a heartfelt musical celebration designed to raise awareness and funds for mental health programs. With a focus on reducing stigma and supporting individuals facing mental health challenges, the festival promises a series of inspiring performances by local musicians with lived experience of mental ill-health.
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Get your tix for ‘The Art Of Disruption’ May 30-June 1 at ACT Hub

Tickets are live for THE ART OF DISRUPTION, the third installation of our Flair program Main Stage productions showing from May 30-June 1 at the ACT Hub! Truth meets imagination on a journey like no other in Rebus Theatre’s newest production featuring disabled actors and actors living with mental health challenges.
A collage of images of Actors performing on stage

One Day Playback Theatre Intensive

Want to learn more about Playback Theatre? Maybe you're interested in joining the Rebus Playback Theatre Ensemble. Here's a great way to test the waters! We are hosting a one-day 'pay what you can' workshop that will double as both an intensive Playback Theatre training and an opportunity to audition for the Rebus Playback Ensemble!
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Seeking Treasurer and Secretary to join the Rebus Board of Directors

A woman sits on a park bench with her back to the camera overlooking a lake surounded by autumn leaves. Text says 'Rebus Theatre Presents: Re-Emergence Every Storm Gives Way To A New Sunrise

Re-Emergence film screenings

RE-EMERGENCE Every Storm Gives Way To A New Sunrise - An uplifting film by disabled actors from across rural NSW about their experiences of Drought, Bushfires and Pandemic. Tickets $15 Full/$5Concession/Free for people with lived experience of disability or mental health challenges (including carers) Re-Emergence is the culmination of over three years of exploration with disabled actors in regional NSW, interrogating the question, “how do we emerge from bushfires, covid19, drought and other disruptions over recent years?”.
A Woman in a costume made of moss stares at a child through a magnifying glass.

Alchemy – Project Alchemy Final Exhibition

Rebus Theatre and Project Alchemy Present Alchemy An exhibition which captures the ‘golden’ moments of the journey of 15 artist’s as they heal hearts and weave magic through a network of arts-based projects in response to the Black Summer Fires. Official opening: 6.00-8.00pm Friday 23 February Exhibition dates: Sat 24 Feb - Sun 17 March Opening times: Friday 5.30pm-8.00pm, Sat-Sun 10.00am-3.00pm The Queanbeyan Hive Gallery
A group of people accept an award on stage

Rebus wins Chief Minister’s award for ‘Excellence in Inclusion in Education and Training’

We were extremely honoured to receive the Award for Excellence in Inclusion in Education and Training at The Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards last night! It was a fantastic evening all round (as usual) showcasing the phenomenal work of individuals and organisations working in the disability sector in Canberra.
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Rebus Turns 10

Rebus celebrated our 10 year anniversary this year on December 2nd. We were joined by Rebus family old and new for an afternoon of reflections on our decade of theatre (and other arts) for social change.

Blog archive

2020

2019

Rebus acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and pays our respect to elders past, present and emerging. 

We practice radical empathy through theatre and other arts to stimulate healing and provoke social and environmental change. Together with our donors and friends, Rebus is embarking on a bold new path to reach more of our marginalised than ever before. Play your own part by making a tax deductible donation to support our mission here!

Donate to Rebus!
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The Rebus Staff Wellbeing Program is supported by Hands Across Canberra in partnership with the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund and the Canberra Foundations Collective.

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