Stages of Empathy – Community Consultations and Playback Performance

Community Consultations and Playback Theatre Performances – Stages of Empathy

A consultation process with people with disability and the organisations that work with them about creating accessible and inclusive community participation opportunities.

Stages of Empathy; empowering organisations who wish to work with diverse communities.

We are creating a workplace training piece to tour to organisations around Australaia 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.

It would be wonderful to see you at one of the two consultations Rebus is hosting to discuss your experiences, and we encourage you to bring along anyone with lived experience of disability and, of course, their carers! We also encourage you to come along for a Playback Theatre performance where the audience will share stories about their experiences on this topic, which will be played back on stage by Rebus actors. Please see below for all the details, including information on how to RSVP and reach out to me with any questions.

WHO: Rebus: Theatre for Social Change is an inclusive theatre company based in the ACT. We create theatre performances and workshops with and for people with disabilities across Australia, and we’re excited to invite your organisation to be part of our most ambitious project yet – Stages of Empathy!

WHAT: In 2025, we will be touring an interactive theatre piece to community organisations and workplaces across Australia. This project will address the challenges and opportunities of working with diverse groups. Part theatre show, part workplace training, the performance is designed to engage audiences in workshop-style discussions about creating more inclusive and accessible environments.

To ensure this performance is impactful, we are conducting a consultation process to gather insights from community organisations. We’re reaching out to you to hear about your own experiences in navigating the creation of an accessible and inclusive workplace.

HOW: At this stage, we’d love to see you at one of the two 2-hour consultation sessions with members from community organisations. Participants will learn about the play, provide feedback, and share insights on how we can make the performance as relevant and relatable as possible. They will also be introduced to a style of theatre we use called Image Theatre.

As well as the consultations, all participants are encouraged to attend an interactive Playback Theatre performance, where stories from the audience are performed on stage by Rebus actors. This will be a fun and engaging way to reflect on the themes of inclusion and accessibility.

‘Stages of Empathy’ is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

Find out more about Stages of Empathy here: https://rebustheatre.com/programs/stages-of-empathy/

Book now for the Canberra Consultations

Please select one Consultation:

Fri Nov 8th 12-2pm Community Consultation – Gorman Arts Centre Main Hall

Sat Nov 9th 2-4pm Community Consultation – Gorman Arts Centre Main Hall

All Consultation attendees are encouraged to attend the Playback Performance

Sat Nov 9th 5-6:30pm Playback Theatre Performance – Ralph Wilson Theatre

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.

a circle of coloured paper hand cutouts reaching inwards towards a three people each with arms stretched out

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!

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.