Glass Child
Produced by The Farm and Performing Lines
A NOTE FROM BREC’S CREATIVE LEARNING COORDINATOR
Glass Child is a performance that celebrates teenagers defying labels, bullies, injustices and the frustrations of being misunderstood. Told through text, movement, home video, animation, music, and mostly, through dance, this show invites audiences to expand their perceptions of disability and embrace kindness.
The production tells the story of regionally based siblings, Kayah, and his younger sister, Maitreyah, who spent much of their youth hanging out together dancing, just for fun. Kayah was born with Down Syndrome, a massive passion for life and infectious energy for dance. His sister is often referred to as the ‘glass child’, a term used to describe the experience of siblings of ‘special needs’ children. The term implies that the siblings are sometimes ‘looked through’ because the needs of one child, for whatever reason, draw the attention of the family unit. This show turns that phrase on its head and shows a deeply personal story of love and affection.
The Farm have a reputation for creating innovative, life affirming pieces of theatre that dig into stories not often shared on stage. It’s the kind of theatre that surprises and challenges, and changes perspectives. Teenagers will relate to the key themes of love, anger, injustice, redemption, and experience a deeply personal yet universal story of emancipation, joy and love.
This production is not one just for those interested in dance. It is a production that tackles universal teenage experiences and has numerous English curriculum links, including text structure and organisation, expressing and developing ideas, examining literature and creating texts.
It would serve as an excellent stimulus for creative writing on personal experiences, with statements from lead performer Kayah resonating with teenagers yearning to be heard and understood.
‘When I am dancing, I breathe and I feel my heart grow full. Dancing makes me remember who I am and who I would like to be. People sometimes don’t listen to my voice, but they listen to my dance’.
FOR SCHOOL YEARS 9 – 12
TEACHER RESOURCES An Education Kit will be provided including classroom ready Pre-Show and Post-Show activities.
CONTENT WARNINGS Production contains mature themes, references to suicide and the use of some words that may be considered offensive to people with lived experience of disability.
CURRICULUM LINKS The Arts and English: Critical and creative thinking, Personal and social capability, Ethical and Intercultural understanding
Glass Child is a poignantly revealing depiction of the sibling relationship between Kayah, a young man with Down syndrome and his sister Maitreyah.
Expressed through dance, theatre and storytelling Glass Child highlights their connection and how their lives have been affected by other people’s perceptions.
The term ‘Glass Child’ refers to the sibling of someone with special needs who often becomes a facilitator in the family, someone who is “looked through”. Kayah is Maitreyah’s oldest brother & was born with Down syndrome. Throughout their lives Maitreyah has watched him be left out, ridiculed or ignored without understanding why. Glass Child puts a microscope on their love and how their relationship has grown. It questions how the rest of us behave when we find the difference we inevitably look for. It asks us to examine why we search for difference when we share so much in common.
The sibling relationship is best expressed through the words of the lead performers Maitreyah and Kayah Guenther.
“Kayah is a brother of blood, but also a friend I rely on to lift my spirits. Down syndrome carries many challenges for him, but it gifts him a love that is truly majestic, he sees spiritual beauty in places where I do not, which in itself gives him a strength I will only know through him” – Maitreyah Guenther
“When Maitreyah was a little girl and fell over I would help her up and now she helps me up. I want people to see inside me and Maitreyah, the love, frustration, anger and the flower I have for her.” – Kayah Guenther
Creative Team
At The Farm, work is made in a collaborative process where everyone brings their expertise without being confined to it. All animals are equal.
Created by Kayah and Maitreyah Guenther, Kate Harman and Gavin Webber
Performed by Kayah and Maitreyah Guenther
Co-‘Directed’ by Kate Harman and Gavin Webber
Set and Costume Designer Rozina SuIiman
Lighting Design Chloe Ogilvie
Composer and Sound Designer Anna Whitaker
With special thanks to Suzie Miller for her script mentorship and consultation
Produced by The Farm and Performing Lines
Glass Child has been supported by HOTA Home of the Arts and the City of Gold Coast through HOTA’s Creative Development Program. The Farm is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
The Farm is funded by the City of Gold Coast. produced by Performing Lines and is home company at HOTA.
ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS
Bring your students to BREC for the best excersion you’ll have this year.
Book your school group now via the form below or contact the our team for more information.
BREC Education Office
T: 1300 661 272
E: education@bunburyentertainment.com
* Please note that BREC’s Creative Learning Program is subject to change.
BREC Creative Learning Online Booking Form