Season 2, Episode 7: Chronic Illness and Art with Sarah Nelson and Guest Interviewer Kelli McCluskey

When chronic illness means a physical theatre artist can no longer move, does that damage their ability to create art? Performer Sarah Nelson has created art across Australia and throughout the world, using her body to create art through mask, circus, physicality, puppetry, and curious exploration, but her greatest challenge came when she was hit with a case of Long Covid that was so serious her family thought she might not make it. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Sarah used this experience to create a new, award-winning artwork, and energised her purpose to advocate against artist burnout, mental distress, performing while injured, and the debilitating relentless cycle of project funding.

SHOW NOTES

Sarah Nelson: https://www.sarahnelson.net/about

Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nelsroad/?hl=en

Kelli McCluskey: https://pvicollective.com/people/kelli-mccluskey/

Kelli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pvikelli/

PVI Collective: https://pvicollective.com/

Koramburra giant earthworm: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gippslandhistory/posts/3638890809674253/

Prue Vermay: https://www.thegazette.com.au/20150812arts-doyenne-is-saluted-by-peers/

Annie Stainer: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/jul/04/annie-stainer-obituary

Suitcase Circus: https://www.suitcasecircus.com/

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre: https://sppt.com.au/

DADAA: https://www.dadaa.org.au/

Sarah’s Projects: https://www.sarahnelson.net/projects

Into the Fog: https://pica.org.au/whats-on/sarah-nelson-hyper-local-artist-in-residence/

The Georgia Malone Artist Prize: “The Georgia Malone Prize will be awarded to one recipient from the yearly cohort who has shown resilience, innovation and courage in delivering their Artist Fund project and in their approach to sustaining a career in the arts.” https://www.minderoo.org/media/wa-composer-wins-50-000-minderoo-prize-for-groundbreaking-album-exploring-the-sounds-of-motherhood/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVsg8imjrPu/?hl=en&img_index=1