Patrons and Ambassadors are an integral part of keeping the Graeae legacy alive by providing a platform for new generations of artists, leading the way in pioneering, trail-blazing theatre.
We greatly value their support, encouragement and enthusiasm, not only for the company, but also for the social and artistic ethos Graeae promotes.
People
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Emma Thompson DBE
Emma Thompson DBE
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 have received an Academy Award for both acting and screenwriting. Emma has pursued an active stage career concurrent with her film, TV and radio work.
‘I have entirely selfish reasons for becoming a Patron of Graeae. Their shows are so inspiring and imaginative that I come to nick their ideas. Seriously… I’ve just put one of their staging notions in the last play I saw into a film. Don’t tell them. Put simply, Graeae rocks. It’s a thrilling theatre company, peopled by thrilling folk. It is why I agreed to become a Graeae Patron’
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Nabil Shaban
Nabil Shaban
Nabil Shaban founded Graeae with Richard Tomlinson in 1980. Their shared vision was to dispel images of defenselessness, together with prejudices and popular myths, around disabled people through theatre, workshops and training. Since 1980, Graeae has achieved an international reputation as a pioneer of accessibility in world-class theatre, with the original impetus of its founders still at its very core.
‘I won’t mind if I die tomorrow because I will die having done one good thing, that is help create GRAEAE!’
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Jack Thorne
Jack Thorne
Jack Thorne is a BAFTA and Olivier award winning theatre, film, television and radio writer, and writer of The Solid Life of Sugar Water and co-adaptor of The Hunchback of Notre Dame for Graeae. He is best known for writing the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the films Wonder and Enola Holmes, and the television programme His Dark Materials.
‘I have had the honour to actually write for Graeae on several occasions now it is without doubt one of the greatest theatrical companies to work with. A constant source of seemingly unending talent it is a company that constantly provokes and pokes at the world and makes outstanding theatre as it does.’
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Mat Fraser
Mat Fraser
Mat Fraser is an English rock musician, actor, writer and performance artist. Mat appeared in Manual Vason’s book Exposure, received critical acclaim for his one-man show Seal and appeared in Channel 4’s hit series Cast Offs. Mat performed The Freak and Showgirl in Rio as part of Unlimited, performed with Graeae’s Reasons to be Cheerful at the 21012 London Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony and with Coldplay in the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony. More recently Mat played Richard II for Northern Broadsides’ 25th year anniversary production, at Hull Truck Theatre. Mat was the first disabled professional actor to play Richard III in the UK.
‘Graeae were the first and are still the best disabled-led theatre company, and I’m proud to be a patron of the company that inspired me to finally become an actor. Graeae reach out far and wide into new audiences, especially younger audiences. It is this achievement, coupled with their leading role in making inclusive, accessible and attractive mainstream work, which makes me so happy to be involved with the company.’
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Jenny Agutter OBE
Jenny Agutter OBE
Jenny Agutter, OBE is an English film, television and theatre actor. She began her career as a child actor in the mid-1960s starring in films such as The Railway Children. More recently, Jenny appears in the BBC’s critically acclaimed Call the Midwife. Jenny was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her charitable services.
‘Graeae is the most creative energetic and magical theatre company, I am a big fan of the work they do, and I am thrilled to be associated with the organisation as a Patron.’
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Sir Peter Blake CBE, RDI, RA
