Je Suis Toi | The Sunshine Troupe
Performed by three members of The Sunshine Troupe – Allycia Staples, Mitch Runcie, and Tim Orton – Je Suis Toi challenged the preconceptions placed upon artists living with disability while evoking universal and relatable imagery of isolation and interaction.
The three performers of the piece, who each identify as living with a disability, were at the forefront of the creative process of this inspiring performance. Each performer collaborated and contributed their own unique voice and story to the piece. Orton provided some thought-provoking prose which allowed me to consider both how I see and interact with people living with disability and my own response to feelings of isolation and entrapment. Following this performance, I am sure to have lingering thoughts and conversations as I mull over these heavy themes.
The journey that the three performers took us on was raw and relatable. Over the past year and a half, we have all experienced feelings of isolation and of being placed inside small boxes. Although Je Suis Toi gave insight into the lived experience of disability, what I found pertinent to this piece was that it highlighted the liberating force of breaking free from social structures which confine people with varied experiences into one singular classification. Though I don’t claim to completely understand the stories that have shaped this performance – which I would say of any other human experience other than my own – I must admit that the feeling of confinement and being pigeonholed is something that is very familiar to me. This is not an uncommon experience for anyone in society who has been deemed ‘different’ as we struggle to fit inside the uncomfortable, tight boxes that have been laid for us to live within. I felt liberated myself as I watched the three performers on stage smash down those societal walls and take me on a journey to freedom.
For me, one of the main things that stood out from Je Suis Toi was that breaking boundaries is easier done in a collaborative process. The performance began with the three performers being wrapped, tangled, and constricted by long pieces of elastic. As they danced around, they slowly began to free themselves from the constraints. Staples, who was the last to remove her constraints, was unable to do so by herself; Runcie and Orton both lyrically danced around Staples and pulled at the elastic, eventually breaking her free from that which bound her. For me, this moment highlighted the importance of social interaction and support systems in assisting people when they are feeling isolated or trapped.
The performers’ demand for a united community reminded me of my time volunteering in a Hare Krishna commune for several weeks. One day a member of their community began to play the tambourine and sing. Before long, 30 or so community members had joined in and they started a procession of singing, dancing, and celebrating. I think back on this memory often and just recall the pure joy that radiated from this group of people that was energising to witness. Throughout various points of Je Suis Toi I felt a similar sensation. The three performers who occupied the stage explosively filled the space with joyful energy. To me, this sort of energy can only truly be established through community social engagement.
For many around the world, this month began with the Tokyo Paralympics placing a spotlight on professional sports people living with disabilities. Now that the spotlight has turned off, I hope that we can continue to have these conversations as we break down the boundaries that confine those who identify as living with a disability. I look forward to next year’s Undercover Artist Festival!
