The voice no one heard ... until the truth unlocked a life

by Jude Pippen PhD

Adrian Thorne can’t talk. But through his writing he has found his voice. Institutionalised at birth, Adrian bears witness in his play Blank Canvas to the joy he has found through his adopting family as well as his trauma at the hands of a violent carer. 

He wants this work to be seen as a catalyst for deeper understanding of issues surrounding both aging and disability.

Carol was a carer in the institute where Adrian was placed, believed to be deaf, dumb, blind and severely disabled. Working with him she found he was neither deaf nor blind but certainly voiceless. When the institute was due to close down her family adopted him and raised him as their own. 

Adrian is now in his 40s and has had access to education, joined writing groups and has a musician working with him, putting his words to song. Adrian writes poetry, stories and songs using the Qwerty Board as a means of communication which can be read by skilled carers who support his right arm as he taps away at the letters and numbers. 

For over two years he worked with local playwright Joy Hinckley to create this play that followed the story of his life. The story shows a family that helped him achieve whatever he dreamed. When he lifts his head and you look into his dark eyes you sense the well of intelligence that is there. The encounter with a violent carer left its mark and the play explores that relationship too in which he is not alone according to other audience members who saw the play in its first performance.

I directed the work at the Buderim War Memorial Hall in 2024. Those who were moved by the production of Blank Canvas challenged me to take the message further, as it addressed important issues across the care sector. I have taken the challenge because I believe in this unique work of Adrian Thorne and Joy Hinckley.

I will apply for funding across state and local government platforms to cover production costs. As a start I joined the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) where donations are tax deductible. The ACF funding will go towards wages for actors with disability involved in the production. 

To support this initiative, you can find the project’s profile page at www.artists.australianculturalfund.org.au and search “blank canvas”.

Blank Canvas writers Adrian Thorne and Joy Hinckley with support worker Chris, left, and dramaturg Elise Greig, rear. 

 Actor Rainee Skinner playing the mother Carol with mannequin representing Adrian. Carol found he was neither deaf nor blind but certainly voiceless.