Alan mixes traditional and non-traditional development methods to create original solo productions which explore the lived experience of disability. His training and practice is inspired by the conventions arising from the global disability arts and culture movement. This movement advances a cultural practice where artists represent their lived experience of disability as complex, dynamic, and infused with a range of concerns that include hopes and dreams, self-worth and autonomy, sexuality and relationships, and social barriers to disability. Alan’s work therefore focuses on shaping a rich and authentic human connection between a physically disabled character and able-bodied audiences.

Alan’s plays reveal a new cultural consciousness, one that stretches dominant narratives of disability. He encourages audiences to identify and resonate with his disabled character – to really see and know him, from his own perspective, rather than from theirs. In response, Alan asks audiences to see and know themselves – especially the ways that we unintentionally shape and support negative attitudes about disabled people. Humour is used to challenge audiences around these stereotypes in ways which make it possible for us all to laugh with Alan. While laughing together, both actor and audience discover a "window of change" which opens genuine personal and social interaction with disabled people.

Alan’s approach to acting has necessarily included the development of voice and movement vocabulary that integrates and – more importantly – builds from a physically disabled body. Alan therefore explores new modes of performance that are generated by a different relationship to time and space, to presence and staging, and to dialogue and delivery. His theatre training includes instruction in traditional acting methods, voice technique, movement for actors, improvisation, and Theatre of the Oppressed methods. He continues to expand and develop his performance techniques and has trained with Trevor John Studios, Ottawa Little Theatre, Pierre Huot, Fides Studios, Miriam Rother, Peter Ryan (Prima Materia), Stage-Left Productions – to name a few.