TYPE OF WORK
Performance by and training for disabled actors, forum theatre and education work

TARGET GROUPS
Produces work that is representative of disabled people as members of the community as a whole, reflecting gender, class, age, race and sexuality

GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT
UK

COMPANY POLICY
A disabled-led company employing managers and artists with physical and sensory impairments, Graeae aims to redress the exclusion of disabled people from performance and make theatre that is genuinely pioneering in both its aesthetic and content.

Graeae commissions plays by disabled people and encourages new writing through training courses and mentoring schemes. The company produces work that is representative of disabled people as members of the community as a whole, contributing to the debate on representation and equality of access, both in the theatre world and among the public at large.

SCALE OF PROJECTS
Number of practitioners: 8–30
Number of participants: 50 maximum
Preparation time: 2–3 weeks
Contact time: 2 hours to full days

PERMANENT STAFF
Executive Producer, Roger Nelson
Artistic Director, Jenny Sealey
Administrator, Annette Burghes
Assistant Director, Jamie Beddard
Access Officer, Claire Saddleton
Training Project Manager, Judith Kilvington

The Trouble with Richard (UK, 2002–ongoing)
Written by Jamie Beddard for 13 to 15-year-old students. Disability and citizenship is a core part of the curriculum, so the play is being re-written for students aged 11 to 13. The structure, content of the play and the learning arc means that with sensitive appropriate re-writes the play could work at primary school level for students aged eight and upwards.

This enables the play to have a longer life and reach many more children. The company works with a sign language interpreter who is integrated into the production and work to ensure the level of signing is age appropriate. Sign language and the clear visual narrative nature of the play make it more accessible to young people who are not first language English users.

peeling (UK, 2002–ongoing)
A production of this play by Kaite O’Reilly, which incorporates sign language and stage text device so the script can be read by a sighted audience. The long-term aim is to have the script translated into other languages so using the stage device the play becomes accessible to a wider audience. The workshops which accompany the play work with a palentypist (text access for deaf people) which can be used as a translation device if working with other languages.

peeling and The Trouble with Richard (see Case Studies)

On Blindness The play, by Glyn Cannon, explores the notion of seeing and believing, the spoken and the unspoken, pin-ups versus portraiture. (touring spring 2004)

Bent This new production, by Martin Sherman, asks the audience to remember that disabled people were also part of the holocaust as ‘imperfect people’. (touring spring 2004)

Graeae Theatre Company
Hampstead Town Hall
213 Haverstock Hill
London NW3 4QP

T +44 (0)20 7681 4755
F +44 (0)20 7681 4756

E info@graeae.org
W www.graeae.org

“It was a great success. I really wanted the students to see forum work, and I felt that the issue of bullying was as apparent as disability.”
Annie Bowie, King Edward VI Community College

“The actors had disabilities and the story was one we all recognised.”
Francis Timling, Teacher, Willowbank Education Support Service

“I want to congratulate the company on a very provocative and educational show. The students just loved the show and I hope they learned some valuable lessons from it.”
Debby Turner, Head of Drama, King Alfred School

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