The Aspinauts are known for their mixture of theatre, spoken word and catchy, evocative songs with meaning.  Having played small independent theatres, we like to connect with the audience, create an intimate atmosphere.  So the concept of house concerts really appealed.  So what is a house concert? Read the rest of this entry »

In childhood I was called Dolly Burger by my mother’s side, Miss Polly by my father.  I’d rather have been Miss Polly even if I was sick, sick, sick too often than be anyone’s doll.  I didn’t like doll’s, those staring, plastic almost demonic representations of a one-size-fits all normality or perfection.  I never identified with being Doll-y or anyone’s doll.  When my mother told me I was hers, her doll, I felt the foundations of my feminist rejection of conformist expectations of ‘what a girl should be’.  I liked the ballet dress with its fluttering leafy skirt, its sheeny pink sating and mother of pearl beading catching rainbows in the lights.  But the doll thing… Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve always considered Donna and The Aspinauts to be diversity friendly but what does it mean to be a disability friendly band?  Is it about having people with disabilities in the band?  Is it about making it easy for those with disabilities to attend your gigs and shows?  Is it about having a natural sense of equality with and respect for those with disabilities?  Is it about having a strong presence in the wider disability community?  Read the rest of this entry »

The rock musical, Footsteps of a Nobody, next goes to Doncaster Playhouse in Doncaster on Saturday 20th Jan.  We’re also planning on a show in April to support international Autism Month.  For information about the show visit www.aspinauts.com .

Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com

Musically supported by The Aspinauts Donna Williams performs How To Be A Boy and Mirror from the rock musical Footsteps of a Nobody.  Filmed by Lindsay at The Guild Theatre in Oct 09, the show was well received and travels next to the USA in Jan 2010 before returning to Australia for a show in Geelong.

Info on upcoming shows can be found at http://www.aspinauts.com Read the rest of this entry »

We have a small community show of our kids rock musical, Baloombawop this Saturday, 7th November 6pm at Jika Jika Community Hall, cnr Plant and Union Streets, in Northcote here in Melbourne, Australia.  Then a big leap with the next public performance of the show at the Missing Piece Theatre, Burbank, California (4:00 PM @ The Missing Piece Theatre 2811 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA, 91505, Burbank, California 91505) in January 2010.  Read the rest of this entry »

We had an awesome Halloween night performing FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY at The Guild Theatre last night.  It was a good turnout, great ambiance and my heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed so much to the show – fellow producer, Harry Paternoster, of Walking Into Bars who co-produced the show with Aspinauts Players, Paul Spears who is both The Aspinauts drummer and technical manager doing the audio, arranging the stage, driving the trolley, Stuart Moore and Chris Samuel who are absolute gems and attended the shop and were the most wonderful ushers for the night, Anthony Julian who really rose to the occasion on the keyboards and provided us the seamless yet theatrical transitions from prose to song throughout the show, all the members of the band on the night for their musical and personal professionalism and being so damned fab to work with, the venues technition and supervisor who made it a great venue to work from, and to the wonderful audience who got so into the show, Rosemary Crossley, Chris Borthwick and Anne Mc Donald for the fab after show Halloween supper back in Brunswick.  THANK YOU.

Next, we take the show to Geelong West’s Woodbin Theatre on Jan 23rd 2010.

All future Aspinauts shows can be found at http://www.aspinauts.com

Warmly,
Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com

I’m really buzzed at the news that I’ll get to perform our one-woman-musical, Footsteps of a Nobody, in the US in Jan 2010.  With musical support from a wonderful accomplished pianist, David Moscoe, it looks like I’ll be able to bring the show to Long Beach, LA and then I’ll fly on to New Jersey to perform it with the support of a second pianist.

“FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY is a powerful one woman rock-musical both written and performed by Donna Williams, author of the international best seller, Nobody Nowhere; Autobiography of an Autistic Girl . This is a unique opportunity to witness the author herself perform a story that has changed the lives of millions. Through vibrant song, characterisations, gestural signing, evocative spoken word, Donna takes us on a journey from a seemingly deaf, psychotic, ’feral’ child to life on the streets and ultimately on to her fight for equality among others”.

REVIEWS OF DONNA WILLIAMS’ WRITING:

She allows us to understand our own perceptions as never before. NEW YORK TIMES
Evocative, poetic, compelling, shocking, gut wrenchingly moving. WEEKEND REVIEW
Deserves every superlative a reviewer can muster. THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Powerful enough to make one reassess what it means to be human. MODE
By turns fascinating and harrowing. PEOPLE MAGAZINE.

UPDATE 7th Dec 2009.

It’s 4 weeks to the flight, a 16 hr flight to LA where I had autism lectures and two performances of Footsteps of a Nobody and a performance of Baloombawop.  Then I was to be flying on to New Jersey to do another performance of Footsteps of a Nobody before a 25 hr flight back to Melbourne.

But it’s 7th Dec and after 3 months of Bronchitis, I’m still coughing yellow muck.  I have only today and tomorrow before antibiotic course number 3 (this time for antibiotic resistant infections so its an end of the line antibiotic) runs out.   The infections are presently all low level but the problem is that on a plane I’ll get more run down than 3 months with bronchitis has already made me, and be simultaneously exposed to 16 hrs of other passenger’s bugs going out and 25 hours of passenger’s bugs coming back.  Plus I couldn’t get Swine Flu vaccination because I’ve been ill.  I’ve been waiting to get better enough to get it.  This Wednesday my blood tests will come back its fairly possible the blood tests will say I’m back in the lap of primary immune deficiencies again after an 8 year reprieve from the immune deficiencies I likely had since 6 months old.

I had to decide that I can’t fly.  I feel I’d be risking further antibiotic resistant infections, possible pnuemonia and I’d be in a seriously at risk category for Swine Flu.  Immune deficiency but essentially it makes the body a walk in for infections.  Until it is again under control I’m meant to stay away from crowds, including off planes.  It’s been really hard for me to accept.  It’s been really bad news for me and I’m trying not to be too scared, just live a ‘normal’ life in between taking medication, coughing and sleeping and remember I’m still me, I’ll always still be me.

Sorry to let any of you down.  I’ll still be making a wonderful video presentation of the talks I’d have given which I hope will air at the events and there’ll be DVD of a performance of Footsteps of a Nobody for the audiences to see.

You can see pics from the show here.

Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com

I’ve made a slideshow from the photos from the shows of Footsteps of a Nobody.  Hope you enjoy it.

Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com