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Image: Cabaret / Photographer: Andrea Testoni

Image: Cabaret
Photographer: Andrea Testoni
EXTANT
Comedy, Contemporary drama, Performance

SIZE OF COMPANY
6 on the road

SCALE OF VENUE
Small-scale

PERMANENT STAFF
Maria Oshodi

ARTISTIC POLICY
Extant is the first performing arts company in the UK managed by visually impaired arts professionals. It aims to promote the arts and culture of the visually impaired community. The company aims to free the spirit of artistic investigation by exploring new creative territories, increasing personal confidence, innovating new arts practise, and opening access to greater methods of communication.

REVIEW EXTRACTS
‘There are also moments when form and content are matched so perfectly that the sighted catch a tiny glimpse of what it must be like to be visually impaired.’ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian (Resistance)

‘More than just a cabaret show, this originally conceived piece goes some way to conjure up the physical and social experiences of blind people both in the content of its sketches and in their presentation.’ Lucy Ribchester, Myvillage.com (The Effing and Blinding Cabaret)

‘It is exciting to experience work made and managed by visually impaired professionals.’ Total Theatre Magazine (The Effing and Blinding Cabaret)

CURRENT PRODUCTION
The Effing and Blinding Cabaret An anarchic cabaret that fearlessly shoots to the dark side of the moon on a surreal rocket of scurrilous song and absurd sketches. (45 mins, 5 on stage, 6 on the road, contains some sexually explicit material.)

FUTURE PRODUCTION
New Work (title tbc) A burlesque show with visually impaired female performers is currently in development. (Details tbc.)

WRAP-AROUND
Extant provides Q&A sessions after performances to discuss the creation of the company and its work, and drama workshops for adults and young people with a focus on accessible drama for visually impaired people, including audio description into live performance.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2007 Croatia (Effing and Blinding Cabaret)
2005 Croatia, France (Resistance)

TOURING AVAILABILITY
Effing and Blinding Cabaret from January 2008