Janie Gibson first began rehearsing for her Newcastle Fringe performance whilst locked up in a prison cell in Queensland.
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The Newcastle actor and activist was arrested when she staged a theatrical blockade against the Adani Carmichael coal mine on February 21.
Dressed as a mermaid and holding a sign that read 'mythical creatures: mermaids and honest coal barons', Gibson chained herself to a cattle grid to stop work on the mine.
The aim was to send a message to Adani and the Australian government that "this mine is a carbon bomb that will accelerate catastrophic climate change".
Whether it is a case of life imitating art or art imitating life, Gibson's new theatre work Voices Of Joan, which will show as part of Newcastle Fringe, calls on the courage of rebel icon Joan of Arc to "to aid us in these dark times".
In collaboration with Finnish director Anu Almagro, the artists search for Joan's story in fragments of history, poetry, letters she wrote, plays written about her and the transcript of her trial for heresy.
"I love Newcastle. It has such a thriving arts and cultural scene and I am delighted to be returning to my hometown and sharing my work as a part of the fringe," Gibson said.
"In Joan's story we see a person with remarkable courage and conviction, but also a story of tragedy and loss. In this time of crisis, Voices Of Joan is a spell, a lamentation and a call to action."
Gibson was born and raised in Newcastle and after many years studying and working internationally with companies such as Song Of the Goat Theatre, Odra Ensemble, Shakespeare and Company and Ultimavez, she is returning home to share her new work.
Voices of Joan will show at The Lock-Up on March 19 and 20 from 7.30pm. The show runs for 60 minutes. Tickets, through newcastlefringe.com.au, cost $25.
