Brisbane-based inclusive theatre company indelarts (formerly known as indelabilityarts) has had a whale of a time, creating immersive, interactive and accessible work to delight young audiences.
The company is known for creating professional artistic and training pathways for artists and community members who identify as having a disability, while fostering acceptance and understanding for those often marginalised or excluded from arts practice.
In March 2019, the company began development on a colourful children’s theatre production, exploring themes of bullying, identity and acceptance.
Based on the book of the same name by Karen Lee Roberts, Wilbur the Optical Whale tells the story of best friends Wibur and Cecil, and their underwater adventure after a confrontation with the Starfish Meanie Gang.
To produce a sensory and visually-striking work for the stage, indelarts collaborated with other creatives including Flipside Circus performers (physical storytelling), Clint Bolster (clown, mask and slapstick), and Elise Greig (story development) through the development process.
The work incorporates elements of:
- Circus and physical theatre
- Digital and visual imagery
- Tactile sensory play
- Music and spoken word
Development began in March 2019 before test showings were presented to peers, stakeholders, presenters, friends and family at the Judith Wright Arts Centre in Brisbane later that year, receiving strong positive feedback. The team refined the production to further embed accessibility and interactivity before its premiere season at Adelaide Fringe in 2020.
What began as an ambitious creative exploration evolved into a nationally presented work, which toured to major festivals and regional areas from 2021 to 2024 - connecting with audiences across Australia through the power of inclusive storytelling.
Image: Wilbur The Optical Whale, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, 2022. Credit: Nick Morrissey.
Wilbur by numbers
- 20 Queensland artists employed
- 48 performances, including at Adelaide Fringe Festival, Brisbane Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival and Perth Fringe Festival
- Audience of almost 2,700 people Australia-wide.
Awards and Recognition
Wilbur the Optical Whale received significant critical and sector recognition, including:
- Adelaide Fringe Access Award - 2020
- John Chataway Innovation Award – 2020
- The first Matilda Award presented to a work created by disabled artists – 2021
- Sydney Fringe Best Children’s Work - 2022
- Perth Fringe Best Kids Show - 2023
Arts Queensland investment
Arts Queensland provided $73,040 in support through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program, Arts Ignite at Judith Wright Arts Centre.
This included:
- $40,000 cash support
- $33,040 in-kind venue and equipment support
This investment enabled multiple creative development weeks, a Showing season and the refinement of the work prior to national presentation.
Feedback and Reviews
“I think this should travel all over the world.”
“Lots of immersive and interactive ideas, it was fun to watch.”
“Our clients (all non-verbal wheelchair users) were engaged for the entire show, lots of smiles and they enjoyed the visual elements.”
“It is so important that work like this is supported in coming to our smaller towns.”
“This is the first time I have seen an inclusive performance and the actors in the work who have disabilities were so professional it was great to see such wonderful role model.”
Image: Wilbur The Optical Whale, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, 2022. Credit: Nick Morrissey.
Project outcomes
- Explored and embedded alternative storytelling methods, including digital integration and circus practice.
- Strengthened cross-disciplinary collaborations with Flipside Circus and independent artists.
- Expanded employment opportunities for artists with disability across development, premiere and touring.
- Secured additional federal funding through DSS and NDIA to support extended touring.
- Generated interest from national and international presenters.
- Initiated development of a schools touring version scheduled for future rollout.
Learnings and reflections
indelarts Artistic Directors Rebecca Alexander and Catarina Hebbard reflected:
"Having four separate creative development weeks allowed space for reflection, skill-building and refinement between the sessions. This staggered process strengthened both the work and the ensemble.
"Flexibility proved essential. The company learned early that adapting to artists’ physical, mental and emotional needs is central to inclusive practice and artistic success.
"Strong production oversight was also critical to ensuring communication, logistics and artistic vision remained aligned."
Tips for others
- Build flexibility into your creative process.
- Allow time between development phases for reflection and growth.
- Consider how best to reach your audience through accessibility and interactivity.
- Maintain strong production leadership and clear communication.
- Keep comprehensive visual and written documentation for reporting and promotion.
Image: Wilbur The Optical Whale, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, 2022. Credit: Nick Morrissey.
What next?
For further information, visit: https://www.indelarts.com/
This case study was first published 22 Apr 2022.
Photos: Wilbur The Optical Whale, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts 2022. Credit: Nick Morrissey.