25 years at Graeae
On 18 August 2022, we will be celebrating Jenny Sealey’s 25 years as Artistic Director and CEO at Graeae. Since 1997, Jenny has been running Graeae with tenacity, kindness and an unwavering commitment to ensuring Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists shine in the spotlight, while also nurturing and cultivating a future generation. She has […]
- News
Sir Peter Blake’s 90th show
Graeae patron, Sir Peter Blake celebrates his 90th birthday on the 2nd December at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The concert features live music from legends such as Madness, Noel Gallagher, Roger Daltrey, Paul Weller, Chrissie Hynde and Baxter Dury. All proceeds from the event will go to Graeae and Teenage Cancer Trust. Jenny Sealey […]
- Opinion
The Paradis Files – where it all began
In conversation with: Artistic Director, Jenny Sealey and Librettist, Nicola Werenowska Listen to the audio version. Jenny: Do you remember the very beginning with the five of us, you, me, Selina (Co-Librettist and Original Idea), Errollyn (music) and Andrea (Musical Director and Conductor) sat in the Graeae hub listening to Selina tell us the story […]
- News
Interview: Director of KERBS, Nickie Miles-Wildin
Director Nickie Miles-Wildin talks about her upcoming show Kerbs by Michael Southan. Can you start by telling us a bit about the narrative of the play? Who is Kerbs about and what happens in it? Kerbs follows Lucy and David as they embark on a dating app. Their first date doesn’t quite go according to plan and there’s […]
- Opinion
KERBS blog: Rehearsals Week 1, 2, 3 & 4
Assistant Director, Britny Virginia gives us an insight into the Kerbs rehearsal process. WEEK ONE Haven’t we all tripped over a kerb (or two) at least once in our lives? No? Okay maybe it’s just me but this is not the type of kerb I’m referring to today. I’m referring to the trailblazing play written […]
- Opinion
Interview: Writer Michael Southan on KERBS at Belgrade Theatre, touring this Spring.
Kerbs is a brand new play from the Belgrade Theatre and the UK’s leading disabled-led theatre company, Graeae, as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. Making its premiere at the Belgrade this spring, the laugh-out-loud new comedy is the debut play from disabled writer Michael Southan. Weat End Best Friend recently chatted […]
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Parents & Carers in Performing Arts
Graeae are proud to be a PiPA (Parents and Carers in Performing Arts) Charter Partner, striving towards creating a more family friendly working environment. Graeae are committed to developing best practice in all areas, and we are excited to work together with PiPA in the coming months. PiPA campaigns to enable and empower parents, carers and employers […]
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Appointment of new Associate Artists & Trainee Producer
Continuing our commitment to nurturing the talent of the future, the four new posts will cover the areas of directing, devising, new writing and artist development.
- News
Kash Arshad & Jenny Sealey | In Conversation
Kash Arshad, director of 10 Nights, and Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director of Graeae, sit down at the Bush to chat. They discuss all things 10 Nights – the process of making, the changes to the show, and the ways they have experimented with integrated creative access. Last week, Graeae, Tamasha and the Bush announced that the […]
- Opinion
Get to know… Shahid Iqbal Khan
Ahead of his play 10 NIGHTS, we caught up with the very lovely human, playwright Shahid Iqbal Khan. Shahid is an alumnus of Graeae’s Write To Play programme in 2018. His plays include The Smile of Despair and Stardust (both with Phizzical Productions) and he recently wrote a short piece Never Been Away for Tara Theatre. What’s the best thing about being a […]
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Shahid Iqbal Khan – Royal Court residency
Graeae and The Royal Court Theatre are delighted to announce that Shahid Iqbal Khan – a graduate from the Graeae Write to Play programme – will begin a year-long attachment programme in January 2022.
- Opinion
Too Much Talk, Too Little Action: Are the standards by which we Judge writing Accessible?
As a visually impaired writer, I often get asked how organisations can help me participate, what I need to get into the building, attend the social etc. What I don’t get asked is how my lived experience impacts both what and how I write. For disabled writers to truly flourish, we need to stop assuming […]
- News
The Tempest – Swimming for Beginners
We’ve been working on an international project in collaboration with the British Council and Owlspot Theatre to stage a production of The Tempest: Swimming for Beginners which will be performed at Owlspot Theatre, Tokyo, Japan from 1 – 6 June 2021. Directed by Jenny Sealey, The Tempest is a bold, modern reworking of Shakespeare’s […]
- News
Hear Me Now: volume 2
Graeae are delighted to be one of the partners on Tamasha Theatre Company’s next volume of Hear Me Now, audition monologues for Actors of Colour. With a focus on actors and writers who are either ethnically diverse and/or Deaf or disabled, the new volume will feature over 100 brand new monologues. Conceived in 2016 […]
- Write to Play blog
Crips without Constraints writer Q&A: Jessica Lovett
Every week for the next five weeks, we’ll be getting to know the writers from Crips without Constraints part 2 better, with a five quick-fire question and answer session. This week, it’s Jessica Lovett, writer of Stuck With You. Jessica is a writer from Shropshire, now based in Bristol. A Graeae Write to Play graduate, she has also been selected […]
- Write to Play blog
Crips without Constraints writer Q&A: Karen Featherstone
Every week for the next five weeks, we’ll be getting to know the writers from Crips without Constraints part 2 better, with a five quick-fire question and answer session. This week, it’s Karen Featherstone, writer of Good Day Bad Day. Karen is a stage, screen and fiction writer. She’s spent time in the story offices of Coronation […]
- Write to Play blog
Crips without Constraints writer Q&A: Leanna Benjamin
Every week for the next five weeks, we’ll be getting to know the writers from Crips without Constraints part 2 better, with a five quick-fire question and answer session. This week, it’s Leanna Benjamin, writer of The Gift. Leanna is from Leeds, and is a graduate of Graeae’s Write to Play programme, more recently graduating from […]
- Write to Play blog
Crips without Constraints writer Q&A: Rebekah Bowsher
Every week for the next five weeks, we’ll be getting to know the writers from Crips without Constraints part 2 better, with a five quick-fire question and answer session. This week, it’s Rebekah Bowsher, writer of Flowers for the Chateau. Bowsher is a member of North East Disabled Artist Agitation Group – Disconsortia and a […]
- Write to Play blog
Crips without Constraints writer Q&A: Kellan Frankland
Every week for the next five weeks, we’ll be getting to know the writers from Crips without Constraints part 2 better, with a five quick-fire question and answer session. This week, it’s Kellan Frankland, writer of How Do You Make a Cup of Tea? Kellan started her Graeae journey on the Ensemble training programme, graduating in 2016, […]
- News
Graeae year in review
Huge thanks to all our funders, donors and audiences for the support during the unusual year that has been 2020. It’s meant that we’ve been able to continue championing and cultivating the talent of Deaf and disabled artists at all stages of their career. We couldn’t have done it without you! Click here to listen […]
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Thrive Aid – The Art of Protest
Register below. Thursday 3 December 2020, 7pm – 9:30pm GMT Three chances to catch Thrive Aid-The Art of Protest, a premiere international collaboration of disabled artists from around the world; coming together to protest the stigma disabled people world-wide face every day!! Thrive Aid-The Art of Protest is a world-wide virtual event that will debut […]
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In memory of David Toole OBE
We are deeply saddened by the recent news of world renowned dancer, actor, disability rights campaigner and our friend David Toole passing away on Friday 16 October, at the age of 56. We were lucky enough to work with David on several occasions, including in our productions of The Fall of the House of Usher […]
- News
Please take our digital audience survey!
If you’ve enjoyed any of our digital lockdown programme this year, whether that be the musical anarchy of Reasons to be Cheerful, brilliant new writing in Crips without Constraints or the classic House of Bernarda Alba, we’d love to hear your thoughts so we can continue championing and cultivating the talent of Deaf & disabled […]
- News
Seven Inclusive Principles for disabled people in arts & culture
Campaigning cultural organisations We Shall Not Be Removed, Ramps on the Moon, Attitude is Everything, Paraorchestra and What Next? have joined together to create a new guide for the arts and entertainment sectors to support disability inclusion.
- News
Spasticus Autisticus for London 2012 eighth anniversary
A special new performance of Spasticus Autisticus from Reasons to be Cheerful cast and creative, to mark the eighth anniversary of the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.
- Opinion
Review of Reasons to be Graeae
A review of Graeae’s book Reasons to be Graeae, by Ensemble 2020 artist Sophie Tennison.
- News
#SugarWater documentary is now on Amazon Prime
We’re very excited to announce that Breakneck Films’ documentary #SugarWater is now available to watch on Amazon Prime!
- News
Open letter to the Culture Secretary – #WeShallNotBeRemoved
An open letter to the Culture Secretary from Deaf and disabled cultural leaders, artists, and inclusive companies on safeguarding the future of disability arts in the UK.
- News
Black Lives Matter
Our statement on Black Lives Matter.
- News
Reasons To Be Cheerful – Available Free Online!
Knock me down with a feather… Reasons To Be Cheerful Available Free Online! Let’s ‘ave it!! Graeae are thrilled to announce their critically acclaimed box office hit musical Reasons To Be Cheerful is available FREE, via online streaming on YouTube from 3rd June through to 3rdAugust. Following nationwide tours, concert versions across the world and a […]
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The Living Declaration of Disability, Equity & Resilience
The Living Declaration aims to raise awareness about the challenges facing disabled people under Covid-19 and beyond.
- News
A lockdown update from our Training & Learning team
A message to our artists, young people, families, schools, creative partners and all who support us.
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London Stands Together
Graeae Patron and legendary pop-artist Sir Peter Blake has created a new artwork to show solidarity, and bring London together in these uncertain times.
- News
Graeae’s new showreel
Check out our new showreel showcasing some of the work we’ve done nationally and internationally over the years.
- Opinion
The Iron Man – Q&A with Director Nickie Miles-Wildin
Director Nickie Miles-Wildin gives us an insight into The Iron Man and what it has been like adapting it for libraries.
- Opinion
What We Talk About When We Talk About Mental Health
We’re delighted that One Under is getting people talking about mental ill-health. But the language we use when doing so is critical. The right words help create and shape an inclusive environment for mental health service users and survivors. The wrong ones return us to a not-too-distant past where mental ill-health was something to be […]
- Opinion
Matt Trueman talks to Winsome Pinnock and Amit Sharma about the reworking of One Under
Some plays have prescience, some are ahead of their time. Fourteen years after Winsome Pinnock’s puzzle of a play One Under had its world premiere, with Graeae’s new version of the work about to embark on a national tour, this tale of Londoners that fall through the cracks has arguably never felt more of […]
- News
Emma Thompson DBE becomes a Patron of Graeae
Graeae is delighted to announce the appointment of Emma Thompson DBE as a new Patron, as we prepare to enter our 40th year. Emma Thompson DBE is an English actress, screenwriter, activist, author, comedian and is one of the world’s most respected talents in acting and screenwriting. She is the only person to date to […]
- News
Graeae awarded Arts Council England funds to help transform leadership
Graeae is delighted to announce that over the next two years we will embark on a new leadership programme to break down barriers faced by Deaf and disabled artists nationwide. This programme will include accredited training, professional development, digital resources and a national strategy for connecting artists with venues. We have been through a […]
- News
A Different Way
A ‘show and tell’ project connecting Performing Arts for Young Audiences with Disabled artists and young people. We are delighted to be partners on this brilliant and essential new project by Daryl Beeton Productions. A Different Way is a ‘show and tell’ project connecting Performing Arts for Young Audiences with Disabled artists and young people. […]
- News
Oliver Twist: a new adaptation for Ramps on the Moon
In Spring 2020 Leeds Playhouse will present a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist. Bold, brutal and beautiful, this brand new version of the play is adapted by award-winning playwright Bryony Lavery and will be directed by Leeds Playhouse’s Associate Director Amy Leach, with dramaturgical support from Graeae’s Artistic Director Jenny Sealey. […]
- News
Graeae Fly the Flag for Human Rights
To mark the 70th anniversary of the United Declaration of Human Rights, Graeae are re-releasing their Acts of Memory film. This is as part of the Fly the Flag national season of work.
- News
Disability Arts Online and Graeae launch new arts podcast
Disability Arts Online, the leading publication for disability arts is joining forces with Graeae, one of the world’s most prominent disability-led theatre companies to deliver the Disability And…Podcast.
- Write to Play blog
Anita MacCallum’s blog | Write to Play year 6
Time in the dark Since we last met up, each writer has been given a mentor and told to write a monologue. This is basically what’s been going on inside my head: ‘I don’t have a voice. I don’t have a voice. I don’t have a voice. I have nothing to say. I have nothing […]
- News
Nickie Miles-Wildin joins Graeae as Associate Director
With the departure of Amit Sharma to Birmingham Repertory Theatre, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Nickie Miles-Wildin as Graeae’s new Associate Director.
- News
Sarah’s Singing Marathon for Ensemble
To help raise money and secure a future for D/deaf and disabled artists, Sarah Warren is doing a SINGING MARATHON throughout June to support Graeae’s Ensemble programme for young theatre makers.
- News
Amit Sharma to join Birmingham Rep
We’re thrilled to announce our Associate Director Amit Sharma will be joining Birmingham Repertory Theatre as their new Deputy Artistic Director in Spring / Summer 2019. He joins other new appointments Sean Foley as Artistic Director, and Rachael Thomas as Executive Director. Amit has been Graeae’s Associate Director since 2011, and is a graduate from Graeae’s Missing Piece […]
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This Is Not For You: Remembered
In Summer 2018, Graeae produced This Is Not For You, a large-scale and hugely ambitious new outdoor production by Mike Kenny with original music by Oliver Vibrans, co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW (the UK’s arts programme for the first-world war centenary) and Blesma, The Limbless Veterans. This unique show, directed by Jenny Sealey, was the first […]
- Write to Play blog
Sally Davis’ blog | Write to Play year 6
Playwriting 101 Last week we talked about story. If a story is about how the things that happen affect someone in pursuit of a difficult goal, and how that person changes internally as a result…then here we are, five writers setting out into the woods, about to confront the forces of antagonism that dictate who […]
- News
Graeae statement on Access to Work cap increase
“Grant to support disabled people in the workplace increases” (Press release) What this press release does not say is that prior to 2016, there was no limit on the amount of support D/deaf and disabled people could receive from ATW. Support was determined in respect to need. People have had their awards cut under […]
- Uncategorized
Introducing our Year Six Write to Play writers!
Graeae are delighted to announce five D/deaf and disabled writers from South West England for the sixth year of Graeae’s Write to Play programme, commencing in January 2019. Writers will work in partnership with Graeae and year six organisations; Bristol Old Vic, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Wiltshire Creative, Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Ustinov Studio […]
- News
Introducing our five new Patrons!
Graeae is delighted to announce the appointment of five new Patrons to help keep the company’s legacy alive. Graeae’s patrons are an integral part of keeping Graeae’s legacy thriving. We value their support, encouragement and enthusiasm, for both the company and for the social and artistic ethos Graeae promotes. What unites our five new patrons […]
- Opinion
Shahid Iqbal Khan’s blog | Write to Play year 5
“Theatre is the consciousness of society.” – Winsome Pinnock This quote came up in a masterclass, as part of the Graeae Write To Play program, earlier this year. It was an exhausting week of writing workshops but there were some enlightening moments. The week was led by playwright Emteaz Hussain and dramaturg Ola Animashawun. I […]
- Write to Play blog
Kathryn Chin’s blog | Write to Play year 5
*This blog includes strong language* For me, a great play leaves me asking questions. So, we left high off the success of the monologues at Soho Theatre and, after a cup of tea and a jammie dodger, I had time to reflect on how what we’d done. The five of us had each written […]
- Opinion
Work Experience
Last week we had two students from Richard Cloudesley School spend the day with us to observe on our Ensemble rehearsals. Here’s what they had to say… “We are Felix and Georgia, students from Richard Cloudesley School. We were here last week and we watched the Ensemble artists reading their scripts, Georgia has performed […]
- Opinion
This Is Not For You Diary
Mark Brown – Full company training week My name is Mark Brown and I’m a Blesma member having been injured in a road traffic accident whilst serving with the 1st Battalion Queens Lancashire Regiment. I joined the Army as a junior soldier and did my training at Queen Elizabeth Barracks Strensall, near York. Being a […]
- Write to Play blog
Lettie Precious’ blog | Write to Play year 5
A workshop in Soho It was snowy that afternoon. I remember it quite distinctly because my Primark bought leather man shoes had had me slipping and sliding through the streets of Central London. I simply couldn’t miss the workshop with Inua Ellams, the writer of ‘Barber Shop Chronicles’. Before I went in, I made my […]
- Opinion
Ensemble blog
Hello! We’re Josh and Elspeth and we are part of Graeae’s Ensemble training programme. We have just completed our ninth week and we can’t believe that we are already over half way through. Although we have our own fantastic plans for the future, we just don’t want it to end! Having the chance to […]
- News
Disability arts goes global
Celebrating the recent Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, we’ve launched our next series of ‘In conversation with…’ videos to discuss how disability arts is addressed around the world. Presenter and Journalist, Mik Scarlet interviews Jenny Sealey (Artistic Director, Graeae), Amit Sharma (Associate Director, Graeae), Jodi-Alissa Bickerton (Creative Learning Director, Graeae) and Asako Hirokawa […]
- Opinion
Meet the Ensemble 2018 artists!
Terri Donovan My name’s Terri Donovan. I’m an actor, writer and general cat lover from Manchester. I first found out about Graeae when the director of The Solid Life of Sugar Water came and spoke at my local theatre. I loved the talk and then saw the show (holy-fizzballs). I have wanted to work […]
- Opinion
Graeae’s Midwich Cuckoos cast blog
Annabel Pattison It was my first time auditioning for a part and being in a recording studio. The whole experience was totally new to me as I’ve never done anything like this before except performing ballet on stage at Blackpool Opera House and dances theatres. Before recording at Granada Studios, I went through the […]
- News
Introducing our year five Write to Play writers!
For the first time since Write to Play launched, year 5 will specifically focus on nurturing D/deaf and disabled writers within the BAME community. Graeae will be working alongside Bush Theatre, Soho Theatre, Ovalhouse, Talawa and Tamasha. Get to know our writers as we ask them a few questions about the year ahead and what their […]
- Write to Play blog
Karran Collings’ blog | Write to Play year 4
The curtain finally falls on Write to Play year 4 So this is it. The curtain finally falls on Write to Play year 4. The sharing at the beginning of December at the Curve in Leicester was simply fantastic. It really did feel like a fitting finale to a demanding yet rewarding year. The […]
- Write to Play blog
Khush Chahal’s blog | Write to Play year 4
Final Sharings For the last time we gathered at Leicester Curve to have our final readings. For a whole day, we had actors, a director and our ever-supportive mentor to read through the play and then prepare an excerpt that would be presented to the audience a couple of days later. I felt nervous about […]
- Write to Play blog
Jessica Lovett’s blog | Write to Play year 4
Time to represent For my final blog post I wanted to discuss representation, more specifically the representation of d/Deaf and disabled characters in British theatre and television. I’m currently part of a television writers group and last week we were looking at Children’s Television. There’s some great stuff out there for kids, a real range […]
- Opinion
Reasons to be Cheerful production diary
Week Eleven – The last week at Theatre Royal Stratford East By Stephen Collins It’s the last night of Reasons to be Cheerful. It’s 11pm. The last show has finished 40 minutes ago. I’m sat alone in the dressing room with a small bottle of champagne from John Kelly (cheers you lovely man). The room is […]
- Opinion
Collaborating with Graeae on In Touch
Graeae are currently collaborating with a Russian theatre company and a Russian director on In Touch; a show about how deafblind people go through life, the barriers they have faced and learning to manage their disability. For the first few days of rehearsal, we were in a studio at a museum; here we got to […]
- Opinion
Cosmic Scallies rehearsal diary
Final stop, Manchester. ‘It’s taken me a while to write this blog for our first week back in Manchester as I think it’s taken me this long to settle! After performing the show “20 something” times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, I completely underestimated how it would feel to revisit the play after four weeks […]
- Opinion
Your Reasons to be Cheerful
Take a look at some of our friends Reasons to be Cheerful! Sir Peter Blake – Love. Joe Jones – Liquorice, puffer fish and girls who are ticklish. Jason Flemyng – Actor – Waking up as a married man. Peter Hook – Joy Division / New Order – The smell of my kids hair. John Turnbull […]
- Opinion
Reasons to be Cheerful rehearsal diary
Week Three By Joey Hickman Hello I’m Joey and I’m the Musical Director for Reasons to be Cheerful. This week has been quite the week! It was week 3 of rehearsals for the actors and week 2 for the band. It was our final week of rehearsals so our last push to get everything ready […]
- News
#SugarWater documentary receives first cinematic screening
We are delighted to announce that Breakneck Films’ documentary #SugarWater, will be receiving it’s first cinematic screening at the Genesis Cinema in Mile End on Sunday 3 December 2017 as part of World Disability Day. #SugarWater charts the journey of Graeae’s first ever production at the National Theatre in spring 2016 with Jack Thorne’s The […]
- News
Chaz Jankel, Derek Hussey & John Kelly write new song for Reasons to be Cheerful
To accompany the new production of Reasons to be Cheerful, touring the UK one final time this autumn, we are delighted to announce that a new song has been written by Blockheads Chaz Jankel and Derek Hussey as well as lead vocalist from the show John Kelly. Entitled ‘If It Can’t Be Right Then […]
- News
BAME focus for Write to Play Year Five, and new partners announced!
Graeae are delighted to announce the fifth year of Write to Play, which for the first time since the programme launched, will specifically focus on nurturing D/deaf and disabled writers within the BAME community. Partners alongside Graeae on the fifth year of the programme will be the Bush Theatre, Soho Theatre, Ovalhouse, Talawa and Tamasha. […]
- Write to Play blog
Hannah Torrance’s blog | Write to Play year 4
Taming Time I’ve been struggling to think what the topic of my last blog post might be, partly because we’ve not had any direct contact with the Graeae team since I last posted, but also because I’ve barely had the time to think, let alone write anything. So that in itself seemed like a suitable […]
- News
Reasons to be Cheerful casting announced!
We are delighted to announce the full cast for the upcoming tour of our acclaimed musical Reasons to be Cheerful, which will hit the road one final time this autumn. The extraordinary wit and wisdom of Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ music and lyrics will be brought to life by an inclusive cast of 14 […]
- News
In memory of Sophie Partridge
We are devastated to hear that actor, campaigner and theatre-maker Sophie Partridge passed away earlier this week. Sophie’s talent has been woven through Graeae’s productions and workshops since 2000 and many of us feel privileged to have called her our friend. We feel her loss deeply but she leaves behind a legacy of delighted audiences […]
- Write to Play blog
Michael Southan’s blog | Write to Play year 4
“Going With Your Instinct” So, the time has come for me to pen my last Graeae blog before I hand over to the next Write To Play-er. I think this is supposed to be the one where I provide that nugget of advice that rings through your ears as you too embark on your writing […]
- Opinion
Mima William’s blog | Projects Intern
Discovering Graeae for me was like Harry Potter when he discovered magic and Hogwarts…
- News
Support Gavin Pilcher to help raise money!
Gavin Pilcher is taking part in the RunUltra Sahara Race in Namibia, to help raise funds for a second year of our Ensemble programme. In 2007, Gavin came together with 3 industry colleagues to raise money for a small children’s charity based in South London. The result was over £400K raised and completing a series […]
- Write to Play blog
Naomi Westerman’s blog | Write to Play year 4
Top Ten Pieces of Advice for Aspiring Playwrights 22 February 2017 This is my final Write to Play blog entry, so I thought I’d give some advice of my own. 1. Go to as many plays as you can from as wide a range as you can (West End to pub fringe, Aristophanes to Aladdin). […]
- News
In memory of Tim Gebbels
We recently learnt with great sadness that our friend, colleague and collaborator Tim Gebbels passed away. Tim was part of our first ever Missing Piece training programme and played Alsemero in our 2001 production of The Changeling (pictured). He was also an Ambassador and Audio Description Consultant for us for many years. He will be […]
- Opinion
The run up to press night
When we began rehearsals at Bradbury Studios (Graeae Headquarters) on 9 January, opening night and The Royal Exchange seemed far far away. Now here we are our first week of opening and what a week it has been. After an intense few days of tech with the brilliant design team, it was time for us […]
- News
What Graeae means to me
In December 2016, to coincide with the launch of our new website, we released a short film where we asked several of our artists and theatre makers to answer one simple question: what does Graeae mean to you? Watch the film by clicking the ‘play’ icon on the above image.
- Opinion
Audio Description for The House Of Bernarda Alba
A Graeae Theatre Company and Royal Exchange Theatre co-production. As a blind person, audio description has always been one of those things that I’ve sort of loved and hated all at the same time. Completely relying on the audio when watching theatre, TV or film, I definitely get frustrated when there’s a long silence and […]
- News
Reasons to be Cheerful returns!
We are delighted to announce that our critically acclaimed musical Reasons to be Cheerful will receive £220,000 as part of Art Council England’s Strategic Touring Programme, to tour to seven regions across England in autumn 2017. Written by Paul Sirett and directed by Jenny Sealey, Reasons to be Cheerful is a celebration of Ian Dury […]
- Opinion
We’re here. At Manchester Royal Exchange
We’re here. At Manchester Royal Exchange. Looking at the outside of the theatre, I get a feeling of excited apprehension. Though that might have been watching my fellow cast members going on the rodeo bull at the Christmas Party (which was only organised as a team building exercise). When we were first allowed inside the […]
- Opinion
Week one of House of Bernarda Alba rehearsals
Week one of Graeae’s House of Bernarda Alba – INSIDE LA CASA (yes I did) After a lovely (boozy) restorative (gluttonous) Christmas break, it was time to get back to some real work. And there’s no work like it. Day One at Graeae HQ consisted of a meet and greet with Graeae and Royal Exchange […]
- News
Our statement on Arts Council England report ‘Equality, Diversity and the Creative Case’.
On 12 December 2016, Arts Council England launched a report entitled ‘Equality, Diversity and the Creative Case’, highlighting the current state of diversity across the cultural sector workforces across 2015 – 16. The full report can be downloaded by clicking here. Our full statement on this report can be found below: ‘It’s refreshing to see […]
- Write to Play blog
Rebekah Bowsher’s blog | Write to Play year 3
Dear future Write to Players When I sat down to write this blog. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know who to talk to. I didn’t know what to talk about. I wasn’t thoroughly convinced by blogging as a process or my ability to do it. And then I remember seeing one of […]
- Write to Play blog
Rick Poppa’s blog | Write to Play year 3
Final Sharings Sitting there, gathering my thoughts whilst looking out of a window that overlooks the new John Lewis development in Leeds, my head was full of – stuff I guess. Today was a big deal, a chance for us as writers to show a room full of people, no, show the world, what we could […]
- Write to Play blog
Introducing our year four Write to Play writers!
Write to Play has landed in the Midlands for its fourth year, where Graeae and our brilliant partner organisations are about to start working with six brilliant new writers. To get to know them a little better, and to get us all in the festive spirit, we asked them three questions.
- Opinion
Swaying in Rio
It goes without saying that being disabled in this society can be hard…
- News
Write to Play awarded a further three years of funding
We are delighted to announce that following a highly successful three years of the Write to Play programme for aspiring Deaf and disabled writers…
- Opinion
An Update from Rio
Deaf and disabled artists in the UK are currently preparing for the Unlimited Festival disability arts extravaganza…
- News
National Theatre Platform: Four years on from the London 2012 Paralympics
On 29 August 2012, the world watched as Deaf and disabled people quite literally took centre-stage…
- Opinion
Good Morning Latitude
Good morning Vietnam!!!!! Ok well we are not in Vietnam or even going there, but still.
- Write to Play blog
Sarah Jane Dickenson’s blog | Write to Play year 3
Part of the Write to Play scheme is two weeks of placement at one of the theatres involved. One week of mine was to be at Live Theatre situated in the city of Newcastle near the quayside of the river Tyne.
- Opinion
Reasons are back!
We’re back! Six years on and none of us can believe our luck. Reasons To Be Cheerful is still going and with a special performance planned for this year’s Latitude Festival, I know I speak for everyone when I say that we were beyond excited. Billed for the Theatre stage, this was very much a […]
- Write to Play blog
Sarah Gonnet’s blog | Write to Play year 3
Miniature One was an opportunity to show a monologue to a select audience at West Yorkshire Playhouse. It was an exhilarating experience; a two day creative whirlwind of rehearsing, developing, and finally the sharing.
- Opinion
“Panache?”
“I hope we can deliver the same panache this time.” “Panache?” I repeated this word to Amit, our director, as we scanned over a newspaper article in the Plymouth Herald by which he sets out his new ambitions for ‘The Solid Life of Sugar Water’ ahead of the formidable tour we have ahead of us. The word […]
- Opinion
Making the bed again
Four months have passed, and the bed is made once more. The Solid Life of Sugar Water, she lives, she breathes again! We have spent this week, getting back into (onto) bed, in London at the National Theatre Studio. Since the play ran at Edinburgh last August at the Fringe Festival, there has been no […]
- Write to Play blog
Helen East’s blog | Write to Play year 2
365 days and nights When I first heard about Graeae’s Write to Play, I immediately got on my soapbox. I’ve always had an aversion to writing projects and competitions that are aimed at specific people. As far as I was concerned, they should be open to everyone regardless of gender, sexuality, age etc. I definitely […]
- Write to Play blog
Karen Featherstone’s blog | Write to Play year 2
Ending on a high So onto our final sharings at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, the event that had been a hypothetical blip on our horizons for the past twelve months, but here it was already, looming up and making us feel it was coming around way too quickly. If you’d asked me last year how […]
- Write to Play blog
Jackie Hagan’s blog | Write to Play year 2
It’s all a balancing act Sometimes being a writer is just something to bolster my own fragile identity. I like the idea of being bookish, it counters the scally bits, but I don’t really read that many books, I’m less bookish, more ‘ish’. But on this scheme I had to stop faffing about having fun with […]
- Opinion
Introducing Graeae’s Ensemble Artists
We are thrilled to welcome our Ensemble Artists to Graeae. We asked each of them to say a little bit about themselves and why they wanted to be part of the Ensemble. I am Jamal Ajala. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and left Nigeria for England with my family when I was seven for […]
- News
Three years on from the London 2012 Paralympics
An exclusive video interview with Nickie Wildin and Mat Fraser, discussing the legacy for Deaf and disabled people three years on from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
- News
The Closure of the Independent Living Fund
On 30 June 2015, the government closes the Independent Living Fund (ILF), a specialist fund which has helped thousands of disabled people to live independent lives since it was founded.
- Write to Play blog
Danni Skerritt’s blog | Write to Play year 2
Juggling fatherhood and writing I’m just going to get straight into this as I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels somewhat different being involved in the arts and being a new parent. I’m still coming to terms with the fact that people see me as a Dad, in a good way of course. […]
- News
New Access to Work rules will make the arts less diverse at every level
Graeae has spoken publicly about how recent changes to the Department of Work and Pensions’ Access to Work scheme have been affecting how the company operates.
- Write to Play blog
sean burn’s blog | Write to Play year 1
heart attack and fine i’m calling this post ‘heart attack and fine’ as tom waits almost sang. a friend / activist / disability arts campaigner texts hiy sean well well well im shocked that youve had a heart attack i dont know why i should be but its maybe my belief that my friends are invulnerable. so yeah, […]
- News
Graeae release statement in response to Lord Freud’s comments about wages for disabled workers
Much has been said about Lord Freud’s recent misplaced comments on the net worth of a disabled person to an employer and how the level of pay should reflect that.
- Write to Play blog
Nicola Werenowska’s blog | Write to Play year 1
Coming Out and Staying Out This blog is a promise to myself never to hide my dyspraxia again in a playwriting context or indeed any other context where it’s more useful to myself and/or others if I am ‘out’ about my disability. So I have dyspraxia. Indeed, other than the fact that I’m passionate about playwriting […]
- News
Two years on from the London 2012 Paralympic Games
An exclusive video interview with Jenny Sealey and John Kelly, discussing the legacy for Deaf and disabled people two years on from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.