Our Young Company is for those aged 16+, Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent, who love theatre and acting and wish to develop their performance skills. Â
The Young Company is directed by Graeae’s Deputy Artistic Director and Disabled artist Miss Jacqui, alongside Deaf and Disabled artists. Â
Our team embrace the talents and interests of all young people and their right to make choices about what they experience and want an audience to experience. Â
The Young Company develop their theatre-making skills through: Â
- Working with scriptÂ
- Exploring different performance techniques Â
- Devising new productionsÂ
- Being part of a rehearsal processÂ
- Performing on stage in front of a live audience at venues across LondonÂ
- Assistant Directing roles Â
- Accessible and inclusive practices Â
There are no fees, no auditions, no barriers, and we aim to meet all access requirements including providing BSL and SSE interpreters, and Access Support Workers.Â
Please note: Sessions, rehearsal and productions run in term times only.Â
Our families are also at the heart of Graeae. During rehearsals and workshops, we offer parents, guardians and carers a safe and comfortable environment to relax, have a cup of tea and even catch a few forty winks if needed. Â
Gallery
Directors
Jodi-Alissa Bickerton is the deputy artistic director at Graeae and has a participatory arts background that fuels her love for theatre and creative collaboration.
Jodi trained in theatre and film at Deakin University in Melbourne, and performed, directed and produced shows in Melbourne performing arts festivals, until her move to England in 2007.
As a Disabled theatre-maker, practitioner and creative producer, she has worked internationally to promote theatre for social change mainly with and by young disabled people.
At Graeae, Jodi leads on the company’s training and learning programmes and on collaborating alongside Deaf and disabled artists, children and young people to spark radical new ways of experiencing theatre and telling stories.
Miss Jacqui is a Poet and Songwriter who knows a great deal about working with the cards that you are dealt. She is someone who always tries to challenge societal perceptions, like what it actually means to be a black woman with a disability. A wheelchair user herself, Miss Jacqui wants her poetry and music to help her listeners to see the world differently, and to inspire others to feel confident in being themselves.
She is also a Spoken Word Artist, Songwriter, and Facilitator.
See also
Children’s Company
Our Children’s Company is open to anyone aged 6-11 who is Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent.  Our in-person group gather on…
The Anchors and The Sails
Past production
