Anna loves making a splash!

One of Perth’s iconic aquatic centres will be staging a different type of swim meet this month. Presented in association with Perth Festival, the Black Swan State Theatre Company will present a unique theatrical experience at Bold Park Aquatic Centre in City Beach. The Pool, written by Steve Rodgers, is an exploration of life at a suburban pool; kids who do “bombies”, lifeguards, mums and bubs, and aqua aerobic participants. Audience members will have the opportunity to sit poolside, wear headsets and listen in on conversations that happen around the water’s edge. They will be able to immerse themselves in the stories and intimacies that play out within a pool community. At the end of the night, everyone will be invited to join the cast in the pool for a ten-minute water aerobics session.

One of the actors involved in The Pool is 27-year-old Anna Gray playing the character, Quinn. Anna has Down Syndrome and is a lover of the arts, singing and dancing. She is no stranger to the pool as she has been swimming since she was a baby, is part of the weekly swimming squad, the Superfins, and has also taken part in the gruelling Rottnest Channel Swim.

In The Pool, Anna gets to combine her love of swimming with her other love of acting.

“I really love the opportunity to work on my acting skills,” says Anna.

“I enjoy being part of the team and I really enjoy sharing the spotlight with [other actors] Kylie and Joel.”

Anna’s character of Quinn is a sassy swimmer who is always seen wearing pink.

Being a veteran of competitions in swimming and ballroom dancing, Anna has the perfect solution for any pre-performance nerves.

“We all sing songs for our voice exercises, and I share my Maltesers,” says Anna.

Anna is looking forward to taking part in The Pool. She says that it shows that people with disabilities can do anything.

“We can do anything we want, dancing, swimming, singing. I feel like I’m a fighting machine!”

The Pool runs from February 9 to February 25 at Bold Park Aquatic Centre. It contains mature themes and coarse language and is recommended for ages 12+. Visit blackswantheatre.com.au/season-2024/the-pool for more information and tickets.