Specials
Kath Duncan
World Premiere
Presented by Arts House
Tuesday 24 – Sunday 29 March 2026
Preview: Tue 24 March, 7.30pm
Tues – Fri, 7.30pm
Sat, 2pm & 7.30pm
Sun, 5pm
90 minutes, no interval
Post-show artist talk for all ticket holders
Sun 29 March following the 5pm show
Tactile Tour and Audio Described performance
Fri 27 Mar, 7:30pm. Tactile Tour commences 1 hour prior.
Performance with relaxed elements
Sat 28 Mar, 2pm
Auslan Interpreting
Sat 28 Mar, 2pm
Tickets
Standard $40
Preview $25
Reduced $25
BLAKTIX $15
A small transaction fee will be charged per order
Warnings
Suitable for ages 16+
This performance contains adult themes, violence, coarse language and content including ableism, bullying, and mistreatment of disabled people. It contains haze effects, loud music, high pitched frequencies, sudden loud noises, flashing lights, and lights that black out.
The work also contains the sounds of sirens and explosions towards the end of the performance.
Specials is based on real locations and events. The language draws from official reports, letters, tests and conference papers that include outdated and offensive terminology around impairment, disability, queerness and culture.
More details about the context of these elements can be obtained in our access guide or through conversations with our Front of House team.
Detailed access information is available to download below
PDF | Word
Arts House
North Melbourne Town Hall
521 Queensberry St
North Melbourne
Wheelchair Accessible
Quiet Space Available
Assistance Animal
Companion Card
Visual Rating 50%
Aural Rating 50%
Relaxed PerformancesA funny and furious work of theatre that’s both rally cry and rebellion.
Simon and Cheryl were once at Special School together. And through a quirk of fate, they soon will be again.
When the pair travel back in time to their days as students, they are once more fighting the forces that showed them the real cost of being Special: the evil headmistress, the scary nurse and the compromised teachers and parents.
Featuring disabled performers and based on real life experiences of Special School in Australia, Specials is a comedic and confronting depiction of the different routes Special Ed takes children on – a world largely hidden from sight.
Following sold-out development showings in 2024, this is Specials in all its fully realised, main stage splendour.
About the artists
Kath Duncan is a playwright, performer, electronic journalist and raconteur, who attended Special School and hated it. She has presented at Malthouse, Spiegeltent and Arts House, and is a passionate advocate for opening up the Australian arts sectors to Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse creatives.
Tansy Gorman
Tansy Gorman is a theatre director and dramaturg whose practice centres access, collaboration and radical inclusion. She has worked across mainstage and independent contexts, developing new performance that blends text, movement and digital design.
Artist statement
Specials is non-fiction evidence mixed with invention and humour. With an all-disabled cast, Specials spoofs power by exposing our shared histories of exclusion, punishments and tests. It's a hearty HA HA OUCH audience experience. Our Freak Flags will be flying.
Artistic credits
Director: Tansy Gorman
Producer: Veronica Pardo
Dramaturg & Production Manager: Flick
Digital Design: Rhian Hinkley
Costume Design: Jodi Hope
Stage/Set Design: Jenny Hector
Sound Design: Sharyn Brand
Stage Manager: Stephanie Lee
Assistant Stage Manager: Ivy Crago
Cast -
Cheryl: Sarah-Jayde Tracey
Simon: Oliver Ayres
Headmistress Anna Haldon: Sonia Marcon
Nurse Grease: Emma J Hawkins
Mr Ginger: Felise Lyon
Mr/s Toady: Trevor Dunn
Jamila Main is no longer able to perform the role of Cheryl in this season of Specials. Sarah-Jayde Tracey will be stepping into the role of Cheryl, and Mr & Mrs Toady will now be performed by Trevor Dunn. We wish Jamila well and enjoyed developing the character with them in early rehearsals.
World Premiere
Presented by Arts House
Tuesday 24 – Sunday 29 March 2026
Preview: Tue 24 March, 7.30pm
Tues – Fri, 7.30pm
Sat, 2pm & 7.30pm
Sun, 5pm
90 minutes, no interval
Post-show artist talk for all ticket holders
Sun 29 March following the 5pm show
Tactile Tour and Audio Described performance
Fri 27 Mar, 7:30pm. Tactile Tour commences 1 hour prior.
Performance with relaxed elements
Sat 28 Mar, 2pm
Auslan Interpreting
Sat 28 Mar, 2pm
Tickets
Standard $40
Preview $25
Reduced $25
BLAKTIX $15
A small transaction fee will be charged per order
Warnings
Suitable for ages 16+
This performance contains adult themes, violence, coarse language and content including ableism, bullying, and mistreatment of disabled people. It contains haze effects, loud music, high pitched frequencies, sudden loud noises, flashing lights, and lights that black out.
The work also contains the sounds of sirens and explosions towards the end of the performance.
Specials is based on real locations and events. The language draws from official reports, letters, tests and conference papers that include outdated and offensive terminology around impairment, disability, queerness and culture.
More details about the context of these elements can be obtained in our access guide or through conversations with our Front of House team.
Detailed access information is available to download below
PDF | Word
Arts House
North Melbourne Town Hall
521 Queensberry St
North Melbourne
Wheelchair Accessible Quiet Space Available Assistance Animal Companion Card Visual Rating 50% Aural Rating 50% Relaxed PerformancesSupported by:
Supported by Creative Australia, Creative Victoria and Arts Access Victoria.
Image credit: Supplied / Actual Size
Image description: A young child with a prosthetic arm on a bright red background. The word ‘Specials’ appears in blue text beside her.
