Crashing, splintering, and exploding – we collide.
Collision is a new theatre work by the queer, disabled and groovy duo – Low Standards, otherwise known as twins Bedelia Lowrenčev and Jeremy Lowrenčev. Screen, stories, Australian Sign Language, and dance all come together to explore multiple marginalised worlds.
Collision is a deep dive into the intersection of Queerness and Disability, and what it means to ricochet between the two. It is difference and togetherness through the micro and macro, from Bedelia and Jeremy’s ‘twin-dom’, to the culture and dynamics of entire communities. It is Bedelia and Jeremy’s stories, in their ways.
Collision. It’s Disabled, it’s Queer, it is a confetti cannon of pride, and most of all, it is learning to own your own colliding supernova funk.
Co-Creators/ Performers Bedelia Lowrenčev and Jeremy Lowrenčev
Mentor/ Dramaturg Felicity Nicol
Cinematographer Lily Drummond
Sound Designer Riana Head-Toussaint
Producer PYT Fairfield
Development History
2023 – PYT Fairfield, 1 week (as part of Sydney WorldPride)
2022 – PYT Fairfield, July – November
2021 – PYT Fairfield, year-long residency
2020 – PYT Fairfield, 2 weeks
ARTIST BIOS
Bedelia Lowrenčev – Co-Creator/Director/Performer
Bedelia is a groovy, disabled performer, dancer, and theatre maker from Western Sydney. Currently, Bedelia is preparing for her performance of ‘Bagatelle’ with The House That Dan Built, and undertaking activism work with Women With Disabilities Victoria, and Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) for the Disability Royal Commission. Since wrapping up her mentorship with Anthea Williams last year, Bedelia has most recently worked on ‘Dear Australia’ at the EDGE GREENWAY Festival, trained with choreographer, Riana Head-Toussaint, and performed in the social media frenzy, ‘All That I am Right Now’ with FORM Dance Projects. Besides this, Bedelia is indulging in Aqua Zumba with her twin brother, and knitting poorly.
Jeremy Lowrenčev – Co-Creator/Director/Performer
Jeremy Lowrenčev is a proud deaf artist from Western Sydney, who is determined to intertwine the Australian Deaf Culture with the Australian Arts Culture. His passion for expression, creativity and messing with social norms is shown through his credits.
Jeremy’s recent credits include ‘Scarecrow’ in HMDS’s production of ‘Wizard of Oz’, and ‘Dear Australia’ with Spark Youth Theatre as part of the Greenway EDGE festival. Previously, Jeremy took on the title role of ‘Sam Newton’ in the film, ‘Illustrating Sam Newton’, directed by award-winning Lily Drummond. Realising the significant effect of playing one’s true self and owning your disability and identity, Jeremy strives for Deaf inclusion and authentic representation in theatre, film and cultural events.
Felicity Nicol – Mentor/Dramaturg
Felicity Nicol is an award-winning Performance Director and Artistic Director from Sydney, Australia. A graduate of NIDA, she has gone on to work with some of the most prominent artists around the world, including Ontroerend Goed (BEL), Punchdrunk & Gecko Physical Theatre (UK), Illutron (DEN) and Mammalian Diving Reflex (CAN). Felicity holds a particular interest in working with young people, specifically queer young people & young people experiencing mental health issues. This interest has led her to working with Spark Youth Theatre & Australian Theatre for Young People (AUS), Mit Ohnes Alles (GER), The Torontonians (CAN) and Company3 (UK).
Riana Head-Touissant – Sound Designer
Riana Head-Toussaint is an interdisciplinary disabled artist. She employs choreography, performance, video, sound design and immersive/participatory instillation to create works that interrogate entrenched structures and ways of thinking; and advocate for social change.
COLLISION- a production by LOW Standards is proudly supported by the Australian Council for the Arts, ANZ Australia and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras through ANZ & Sydney Mardi Gras Community Grants, Fairfield City Council and PYT Fairfield.
Image Credit: Anna Kucera