Julia Hales is a theatre-maker and performance artist who has dedicated her career to sharing the experiences of people living with disability, in particular Down syndrome.
In 2018, Julia presented the world-premiere of You Know We Belong Together – an autobiographical play on love, relationships, acceptance and belonging experienced by a woman who also happens to have Down syndrome.
Since 2019, she’s been mentored by Black Swan Theatre Company’s artistic director Clare Watson. This has opened up opportunities to contribute to the theatre company and further develop her skills as a leader in the arts and disability space.
Now focused on creating artistic opportunities for other artists with disability, Julia is collaborating with My Place WA on the development of a new arts bureau called My Studio.
A passionate advocate within her community, Julia demonstrates through her art what she and others with Down syndrome are capable of. She’s dispelling prejudice and creating opportunities for people like her.