Merrigong Theatre Company's Strangeways Ensemble presents TRASH TALK in association with The Disability Trust

Strangeways Ensemble is Merrigong Theatre Company's permanent company, and consists of seven actors, all of whom are perceived to have intellectual disabilities. Following on from their hugely successful inaugural production, 2017's The Outside Man, Trash Talk is Strangeways Ensemble's latest, stunning work directed by Anne-Louise Rentell (The Outside Man, Alana Valentine's Dead Man Break, Marcel Dorney's Charcoal Creek).

Set in a fictional recycling depot of an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE), Trash Talk explores some of the workplace issues faced by people living with disabilities, drawing inspiration from the ensemble members' own experiences. Presented in Strangeways' quintessential style of mixing realism with fantasy, Trash Talk is an entertaining blend of drama, humour, physical theatre, video projection and some larger-than-life Pro-Wrestler-esque characters.

Director, Anne-Louise Rentell said, We have continued our creative process of developing the show through improvisations and drawing on the cast's personal experiences and interests. It's been fantastic working in a highly imaginative space with hard-hitting truths to create a powerful piece of theatre by a talented group of people."

Cast and Creative Team

Director and Devisor Anne-Louise Rentell Devisors / Performers Malcolm Allison, Ethan Arnold, Jordan Bowater, Ethan Green, Rachel Head, Phillip Prentice and Christian Tagliaferro Set and Costume Designer Katja Handt Video Media Designer Sean Bacon Lighting Designer Taryn Brown Composer and Sound Designer Daryl Wallis Wrestling Choreographer Ben Coles Support Worker Marion Maclean