A black and white photo of Jenny Sealy directing. She is standing with a performer who is using a wheelchair. Jenny is pointing to something out of frame.

Our history

Since its official opening in 1980, Graeae Theatre Company has been an international leader and innovator in accessible world-class theatre.

The company was founded by Nabil Shaban and Richard Tomlinson after the duo met when Shaban was interviewing for a place at Hereward College in 1972. Shaban had a great desire to be an actor, however, at the time drama schools refused admission based on disability. Tomlinson, finding out about Shaban’s ambition for the stage, invited him to come work alongside, and eventually act in his theatre workshop. The workshop allowed participants to break the myths and stigmas that surround disability, and it was out of this workshop that Graeae was born. 

Graeae is founded on the mission to create theatrical excellence through the vision and practice of Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists. The experiences of these artists are part of Graeae’s genesis, the early productions devised by the company were specifically written to combat societal expectations of disabled people. Over time, the company has produced original works, cabarets, Shakespeare, musicals, and everything in between. While not every show specifically speaks to the Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent experience, they are all inherently Graeae.  

Graeae’s presence in 2023 was not anticipated by the company’s founders. Throughout the company’s forty plus year history, there has been some progression in the way of accessibility and disability inclusion in the world of performance, but the industry and training to become part of the industry is still highly exclusionary. Graeae represents the individuals and stories that have been portrayed by those without the lived experience of deafness, disability, and neurodivergence throughout history. 

Graeae would not be the exception to the rule. Ideally, Graeae would be considered a preeminent theatre company for their context exclusively, not for their content and the noteworthiness of those who create that content. The tenacity of Graeae’s team has never wavered. Perhaps Artistic Director/CEO, Jenny Sealey OBE said it best, 

“We are living in fragile times and everywhere Deaf and disabled people are fighting cuts and for basic survival. Graeae is needed more than ever to create political platforms through artistic engagement and to be visible, reminding people – we are here and we ain’t going anywhere!”

Researched and written by Chloe Vollenweider as a part of an ongoing PhD research project between Graeae and Queen Mary University London.

Timeline

Return to timeline navigation
Performers on stage. Three are in wheelchairs, one is lying on the floor, and two a stood up. All appear to be looking at the same fixed point in the distance.

1970

The 1970s saw massive waves heading towards the Disability Rights movement. While Graeae would not officially be founded until 1980, founders Richard Tomlinson and Nabil Shaban, met and began working towards the vision of Graeae throughout the decade. Productions, Ready Salted Crips and its eventual definitive version, and Graeae’s first production, Sideshow took shape during this time. 

Return to timeline navigation
A black and white picture. Two men, one is sat on a row of chairs looking disinterested; the other is stood on the chairs pointing forward.

1972

Company Background

In 1972 Nabil Shaban interviewed at Hereward College in Coventry to do a course for the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in business studies where Richard Tomlinson sat on the interview panel. When asked by Richard if he had any interest in drama, Nabil informed the panel that it was his greatest desire to be an actor.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A black and white blurry action shot; someone in a top hat quickly pulls a large blanket off of someone in a wheelchair.

1978

Founding Graeae

In 1978 the United Nations announced that they would be designating 1981 the International Year of Disabled People (IYDP). Richard recognised this as an excellent opportunity to take advantage of and it was time for Nabil and Richard to launch their company. Launching at this time would not only utilise the international spotlight on disabled people, but there was a potential for additional funding opportunities throughout that year. Nabil and Richard then made it their goal to be fully launched, up and running in 1980.  

Richard thought they should have a goal to tour internationally within their first year. Given his new contacts at the University of Illinois, they set up a tour of the state which would run from June-August 1980. There was also an additional opportunity at the International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation in Winnipeg, Canada which would give the company an opportunity to present to medical professionals around the world. Anyone who knows Graeae knows that this was an opportunity to subvert expectations and publicise their new company. The duo agreed to continue to devise and adjust Sideshow as Graeae’s first official production for this tour.

Return to timeline navigation

Naming Graeae

Before they could begin advertising and recruiting, they needed a name. Richard and Nabil agreed that the name should reference disability and come from the classics. As Nabil has stated, “the idea of using something from something from mythology to dispel and shatter the misconceptions and myths about disability, was very important and we wanted to contain that notion within the name of this embryonic theatre company. We were in the business of myth breaking.”  

Naming Graeae: 

The Myth: According to Greek legend, the three Graeae sisters shared an eye and a single tooth. When Perseus stole them, the sisters revealed how to kill the Medusa, but he broke his oath and threw away their life source. The Graeae ethos is grounded in working together and sharing resources. 

We are often asked how Graeae is pronounced so we wanted to share the correct pronunciation: “grey-eye”. 

The below animation, with illustration by Graeae patron Sir Peter Blake, narration by Graeae co-founder Nabil Shaban, words by Write to Play writer Sean Burn and animation by Dog & Rabbit, was originally created for the Graeae and Central Illustration Agency exhibition Reframing the Myth exhibition in February 2016.

Original artwork by patron Sir Peter Blake.

Trailers

Return to timeline navigation
Four performers on stage, stood in a line. One of them is holding a comically large tube of toothpaste.

1979

Recruitment begans in the Summer of 1979, Nabil and Richard hold a number of workshops to assess potential interest. These workshops led to hiring a cast of six actors, 3 men, and 3 women, all with different impairments. Rehearsals began at the Diorama in February 1980 and continued until the premiere performance in May 1980 at Surrey University in Guildford. The company then quickly left for Illinois where they would perform 27 shows in 23 days, each of these performances were in different venues all over the states. The tour was sponsored by the University of Illinois and allowed them to present to a variety of audiences including children, the elderly, and those in hospitals. Following the tour, they went up to Canada for the International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation. Graeae did not adapt their production to suit the needs and wants of medical professionals at the event. Graeae was not created on the basis of drama therapy, Graeae was created to be a professional theatre which also subverted attitudes, misconceptions, and disrupt myths about disability. Incredibly, it did not matter that the script was honest, cutting, and critical of pity, the company was met with excellent reviews everywhere they went. 

Following their overwhelming success on their first international tour, the company returned to Britain for a tour around England and Wales beginning August 1980. This tour continued through the end of 1980 and garnered national attention leading to the BBC to film a special Arena documentary. The documentary followed their work and was aired to coincide with the opening of the IYDP. 

Return to timeline navigation
A poster for the Graeae production of Sideshow. It is a high contrast, close up image of Nabil Shaban.

1980

Sideshow premieres at Surrey University before embarking on a tour of North America. In the Autumn BBC2 begins filming a documentary on the company which will be aired to coincide with the opening of the IYDP.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A white flyer with blue text, promoting Graeae's '3D'.

1981

Graeae presents Sideshow at Riverside Studios, being paid full equity wages. The company becomes fully funded to set up a residency at the Arts Centre in Aldershot for 18 months. 3D becomes Graeae’s first premiere at Fringe Festival before beginning a UK tour.
Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for the Graeae production of 'M3 Junction 4'. The poster features an illustration of a clown waving his crutches in the air and smiliing.

1982

Following the great success of the BBC2 documentary, Channel 4 begins filming, ‘People’s Minds’ about the making of M3 Junction 4 (M3 J4) which also premiered and toured in 1982. M3 Junction 4 was another devised piece which examines the stigma of disability around accessible accommodation. Additionally, co-founder Richard Tomlinson’s book Disability, Theatre, and Education is published in December of this year.
Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
The poster for the Graeae show 'Not Much To Ask' which depicts a renaissance style painting of a young woman.

1983

Graeae’s first Theatre in Education (T.I.E) show, Endless Variety Show, written by Chris Speyer, tours the UK. Graeae participates in the first Day of Disabled Artists in Covent Garden. Graeae launches Patsy Rodenburg’s Not Much to Ask, an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s “Villette”. The show went on to tour the UK with Arts Council of Great Britain funding. Finally, a team of ten company members took a new production of Casting Out written and directed by Nigel Jamieson on a tour of India.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's production of 'Frankenstien' by Mary Shelley. The poster features a black and white illustration of Dr Frankenstein and his monster.

1984

Following the success of the Casting Out tour in India, the production has a stint in London before going on a further UK tour. Later in the year, Cocktail Cabaret devised by Yvonne Allen, Bryony Lavery, Annie Lewis, Geoff Parker, Tracy Thomas, Isobel Ward, and Elly Wilkie is taken to Fringe Festival. At the end of the year, Graeae’s interpretation of Frankenstein began an ACGB funded tour that would stretch into the following year.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A baby doll is suspended above a stage, it had angel wings glued to it. A performer stands and points at it.

1986

In Spring, a T.I.E. production, Equality Street, devised by Ashley Grey and Geoff Armstrong goes on a school tour. This tour initially targeted schools throughout London, however due to the success of these initial presentations, the tour continued throughout the rest of the year and led to a training course that was hosted in 1988.

A tour of England and Wales of Noel Grieg’s Working Hearts presented audiences with a reflection of the relationship of disability artistic expression throughout the rest of the year.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's production of 'A Private View'. The poster is an abstarct drawing of two nude people, one of whom is sitting in a wheelchair.

1987

Equality Street continues to tour throughout the first part of the year. Private View, by Tasha Fairbanks, is Graeae’s first women’s project. The production toured throughout the UK and internationally in Malaysia.

Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's production of 'The Cornflake Box'. The poster is white, red, and black, and shows an illustration of three characters - one of which is using a wheelchair. The text on the poster is a mixture of red, black, and white, and reads

1988

The Cornflake Box, Graeae’s first community play premieres. The production focused on the independent living movement and governmental regulations around accessible housing. 

The Independent Living Fund is introduced.

Return to timeline navigation
A poster promoting Graeae's production of 'Why'. The poster has a blue background and a black and white drawing of a tree. The patterns in the bark of the tree form a distorted face. In the foreground there is a red broken heart with an arrow through it. There is bold red text at the top that reads

1989

T.I.E. production, Why? premieres in London and tours throughout the UK. The production reflects on growing disability rights movement and disabled people’s desire to be in control of their own lives.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Simple black and white poster for Graeae's 'Chances Are...'

1990

Why? continues to tour throughout Spring and Summer in the UK.

Chances Are…, another T.I.E. production premieres in September of this year, before embarking on a tour that extends into 1991.
In July, the Americans with Disabilities Act is passed in the United States, this is a major tipping point for international disability rights. 
Return to timeline navigation
Three performers on stage, two wearing lab coats and looking at their watches. The third stands in the middle with her hands up in the air.

1991

Chances are… tour continues into spring of this year. In March, Revenge, which was presented by the Riversiders in association with Graeae and Greenwich Youth Aid, is presented at Greenwich Young People’s Theatre.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Two performers onstage. One is wearing a large structure on their head, in the shape of a dog. The other is dressed wearing a large woolen jumper and a wax jacket.

1992

Graeae presents their 10th anniversary national tour production of Hound, written by Maria Oshodi.

Following the success of the previous year, Revenge Two is created by The Riversiders, a group of young disabled people between the ages of 14 and 25 years old.

At the end of the year Graeae stages a production of Firdaus Kanga’s A Kind of Immigrant, through a national tour.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Two performers on a stage set as a hospital. One sits in a chair, holding the knees of the other, who is standing over them.

1993

April De Angelis adapts Albie Sachs’ the soft vengeance of a freedom fighter for Graeae. The production of Soft Vengeance was directed by and starred Ewan Marshall and went on to tour internationally.

The Jungle, adapted and directed by Fiona Branson, was also presented this year to celebrate European Day of Disabled People. This production was created through Graeae’s Borderlines Project which presented performances with disabled people of all ages and experiences.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A man faces the camera with a smug expression on his face, he is smoking a lit cigarette and has a crown on his head.

1994

Following a couple of years without T.I.E. productions, Graeae presented, Playback, a forum Theatre in Education programme. The programme began in spring and focused on visiting schools that were not necessarily considered schools for disabled children.

In June of this year, Access to Work is introduced. Access to Work is a grant programme that funds support for individuals who are D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, or have a mental health condition. Access to Work greatly changed the landscape for employment for disabled individuals across the country.

Graeae Youth Theatre presented Historical Briefs in July.

Finally, Ubu, by Alfred Jarry and adapted by Trevor Lloyd, premieres.

Return to timeline navigation
A brown poster with blue text that reads

1995

Following Graeae’s Playback programme from the following year, Playback 2U Forum, an interactive drama, premiered.

Presented at Oval House, Revenge of the Graeae was created to continue supporting disabled female playwrights. The programme brought together five women who worked together for nearly a year to create five productions that were presented over a weekend in March.

On the 8 November, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was passed, making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of disability.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A performer sings passionately. The performer is a black woman with curly black hair. She is wearing an off the shoulder dress and a chain necklace. She has one hand, with which she is holding the microphone.

1996

Starring Graeae co-founder Nabil Shaban, Flesh fly, a new adaptation of Ben Johnson’s Volpone launches a national tour at the beginning of 1996.

Sympathy for the Devil, a co-production with Basic Theatre Company, embarked on a nation tour. The play was written by Roy Winston and directed by Ray Harrison Graham, previously seen in Graeae’s production of Soft Vengeance

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A male performer, covered in tattoos and wearing black underwear, flexes whilst leaning forward onto his crutches.

1997

What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton toured nationally from Spring to Summer of 1997. The production was Ewan Marshall’s last as artistic director of Graeae.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Poster for 'Alice'. There is a picture of the mad hatter, and a teapots and teacups.

1998

Jenny Sealey is appointed to Artistic Director and presents Two, by Jim Cartwright. The production went on tour throughout England.

Alice, a co-production with Nottingham Playhouse and Roundabout Theatre in Education, was an adaptation by Noel Grieg of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. The production went on a national tour that included educational outreach to the community and to local schools.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A performer sits in an armchair. He is a white man, wearing a bowler hat, a black corset, and fishnet tights.

1999

Directed by Jenny Sealey, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Soeur by Tennessee Williams tours England.

A co-production with Fittings Multi-media arts, Fittings: The Last Freak Show premiered in May of 1999. The production turned audience’s understanding of freak shows on their head and caused political outcry at one of their tour stops.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's production of 'Woyzeck'. The poster is a picture of a man's bare chest with

2000

The turn of the century saw an incredibly busy year for the company with launches of a new training course, and three new productions.

Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe was presented by the company in February 2000.

Perhaps most notably, The Missing Piece Project, which was launched in 1999 continued into March of 2000. The project provided twelve early career actors with a six- month intensive training course. This course resulted in two touring productions, Woyzeck by Georg Büchner, and Message in a Bottle, a T.I.E. production targeting years four through six. The project would continue to be repeated for many years to come and trained many of Graeae’s key company members over the years.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A white woman strikes a dramatic pose whilst sitting on a wheelchair.

2001

Peter Wolf’s Into the Mystic, directed by Jenny Sealey has a run at Riverside Studios before beginning a UK tour.

The Missing Piece 2 cohort presents Federico Garcia Lorca’s Blood Wedding which toured throughout England. This cohort also presented an additional showcase of monologues and scenes in March.

Towards the end of 2001, The Changeling by Middleton & Rowley, and adapted for Graeae by Clare McIntyre premiered. The production was set against the background of the late 1960s, and it toured throughout England.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Two performers dressed in red and white costumes, strike dramatic poses.

2002

Wild Lunch VI was Paines Plough and Graeae’s first collaboration which resulted in professional lunchtime readings of new work at the Young Vic. 

peeling by Kaite O’Reilly and directed by Jenny Sealey had its world premiere at Soho Theatre. The production would go on to be revived the following year due to its immense success.

Traverse Theatre, Paines Plough, and Graeae also went on to produce a co-production of The Drowned World in August of 2002.

Return to timeline navigation
A performer sits amongst swathes of white fabric. They are cast in a blue light.

2003

Named Time Out’s Best Children’s Show of 2003, Diary of an Action Man, was a collaboration with Graeae and Unicorn Children’s Theatre that toured throughout London and was revived in 2005.

Graeae was also involved in a production of The Vagina Monologues for VDAY, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls.

peeling is revived and goes on a national tour for three months.

Missing Piece 3 cohort presented Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children. The production starred Liz Carr as Mother Courage and toured throughout London. Missing Piece 3 also marked the inclusion of London Metropolitan University in the programme.

Finally, The Trouble with Richard, a T.I.E. Forum Theatre Schools’ production for key stage 4 students (11-14 years) toured.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Two performers are positioned back to back, one is in a wheelchair and the other stood upright. They wear the uniform of a person in a concentration camp.

2004

On Blindness by Glyn Cannon was a co-production between Graeae, Franticassembly, and Paines Plough and toured throughout England. 

Missing Piece 4 combined audio description, sign language, live music, and physicality to create a compelling new approach to Martin Sherman’s shattering play, Bent. The production went on a national tour.

In 2004, Graeae presented On Blindness by Glyn Cannon and Martin Sherman’s Bent.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A young black performer stands with their hands clasped. They are wearing dark sunglasses, a curly judges wig, and a white ballgown with a golden star on the front.

2005

Diary of an Action Man is revived for a national tour accompanied by educational outreach and workshops.

Members of Graeae’s Missing Piece 4 presented Molière’s George Dandin in a new translation by Philip Osment on a tour of London.  

Graeae premiered a national tour revival of Diary of an Action Man. The Missing Piece 4 cohort presented Molière’s George Dandin in a new translation by Philip Osment on a tour of London.  

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's production of 'Blasted' by Sarah Kane. The poster is black and title is written in a white type writer font. There is a hand clenched into a fist, with rose petals overflowing from its grasp.

2006

Graeae presented an innovated version of Sarah Kane’s devise play, Blasted. This is achieved through accessible design techniques and integration of spoken stage direction. The production when on a national tour.

Missing Piece Project 5 members presented Fuddy Meers, by David Lindsay-Abaire. The production went on to tour England.

Graeae premiered their first production of Sarah Kane’s Blasted and Missing Piece Project 5 presented, Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay-Abaire.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's production of

2007

Mike Kenny’s adaptation of Snow White, Whiter Than Snow, turned the fairytale on its head and then went on a national tour.

Based on the lives of the girls in John Groom’s Crippleage in Clerkenwell in the early 1900s, Flower Girls, directed by Jenny Sealey resulted in a tour and a book publication.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's production of 'Static' by Dan Rebellato. The poster is purple with a blue casette tape that has

2008

Static, a story of love, loss and compilation tapes, by Dan Rebellato was presented by Graeae, and Suspect Culture went on tour before a stint at Soho Theatre in London.

Scene Change, a collaboration with Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and Graeae, was a project that encouraged access to the performing arts for young people with sensory impairments.

Alex Bulmer and Jack Thorne adapt The Hunchback of Notre Dame as a collaboration between Graeae and BBC2.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation

2009

Written by Sophie Partridge, Just Me, Bell, was an interactive play for young people that went on to tour.

Graeae had their first co-production with Strange Fruit in 2009, Against the Tide was created for The Greenwich Docklands Festival.

Return to timeline navigation
A group of performers sing and play musical instruments on stage.

2010

Signs of a Star Shaped Diva, presented by Graeae in association with Theatre Royal Stratford East was a camp deaf cabaret that went on to a tour of the UK.

Graeae had their second co-production with Strange Fruit when The Garden premiered at The Greenwich Docklands International Festival.

Graeae’s triumphant success, Reasons to be Cheerful, featuring the music of Ian Dury and the Blockheads, premieres and goes on a tour of the UK. The production was eventually nominated for Best Touring Production and the Renee Shepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre at the TMA Theatre UK Awards.

The Rhinestone Rollers, Graeae’s wheelchair dancing troupe also debuted this year.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A poster for Graeae's 'The Iron Man'. Its grey and white, with white text in red speech bubbles advertising the event. There is a picture of the iron giant labelled

2011

The Rhinestone Rollers presented their second show, Wheels on Broadway.

Graeae premieres their take on Ted Hughes’ classic, The Iron Man, adapted by Paul Sirett at The Norfolk & Norwich Festival before embarking on their initial tour of England. The Iron Man was constructed as a giant iron puppet which was brought to life by multiple puppeteers.

Return to timeline navigation
A huge puppet, glowing with golden light and operated by a crane, walks through a large crowd of people. There is a large building in the background that has blue light patterns projected onto it.

2012

In the early part of the year, a revival of Graeae’s smash-hit Reasons to be Cheerful went on a massive tour before appearing at the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. This tour culminated in a performance at Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre as part of Unlimited Festival 2012.

As part of the 2012 London Cultural Festival, Graeae presented Prometheus Awakes, a co-production with La Fura Dels Baus. Featuring an 8-meter-tall figure of Prometheus, and mass aerial choreography, this production wowed international audiences visiting London.

August 29 saw the Paralympic Opening Ceremony which was co-directed by Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings. The ceremony was a triumph featuring the cast of Reasons to be Cheerful, Nicola Miles-Wildin, Ian McKellen, Mat Fraser, and many more members of the Graeae collective. To learn more about the legacy of the 2012 Paralympic Games, check out the video below.

The Rhinestone Rollers present Sequins and Snowballs to round out 2012.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A female performer places a flower crown on the head of another.

2013

Write to Play, a programme which nurtures five new writers each year is launched. The programme is still running successfully, having taken a short pause during the pandemic.

Following its successful run in 2011, The Iron Man is revived and taken on a schools and libraries tour over the summer.

In association with Strange Fruit and commissioned by Greenwich Docklands International Festival, Graeae presented The Limbless Knight.

Graeae’s Youth Programme, inspired by Rhinestone Rollers created and presented, Deck the Stalls, a celebration for the festive season.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A group of performers stand on stage, facing out towards the audience. Some of them hold instruments.

2014

Graeae in collaboration with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company, and West Yorkshire Playhouse presented an explosive new production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera. This new version was a massive hit and embarked on a national tour.

Signs of a Star Shaped Diva is revived and goes on a national tour.

In collaboration with Circo Crescer E Viver, Graeae presented Belonging, which featured performances in both Brazil and the UK.

Reasons to be Cheerful was revived for a third time, this instance it was presented as a concert version that had an additional national tour.

The Rolletes is launched with Graeae’s Youth Programme, bringing all of the glitz and glam of the Rhinestone Rollers to Graeae’s young performers.

The Iron Man is revived and embarks on a school tour.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Two performers, a man and a woman, stand facing each other on stage. The man is looking out towards the audience and the woman is looking straight at him The stage is set behind them as a messy bedroom.

2015

Graeae returned to Lorca’s intense classic, Blood Wedding, in a new adaptation by David Ireland. Blood Wedding was a co-production with Derby Theatre and Dundee Rep Ensemble that went on a successful international tour.

The Solid Life of Sugar Water written by Jack Thorne premieres to rave reviews at Fringe Festival before beginning a national tour. The tour culminated in Graeae’s first production to be invited to play at the National Theatre.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
An illustration of a white woman, with short black hair. She has one hand and is wearing an ornate robe with flowers and birds on it, holding a cigarette in her hand. There is black text that reads

2016

Stepping Stones, a schools tour as a part of ensemble training is launched.

In collaboration with Central Illustration Agency, Graeae launched Reframing the Myth, an exhibition at the Guardian’s exhibition space. The exhibition featured artistic interpretations of various artists and members of the Graeae collective from the company’s 35-year history. This exhibition resulted in a publication and featured a piece from Graeae’s patron Sir Peter Blake.

Graeae’s co-production Dhaka Theatre, A Different Romeo and Juliet performed in Bangladesh as Part of Shakespeare Lives which was sponsored and organized by the British Council.

A revived version of Graeae’s collaboration with Strange Fruit, The Garden performed in Brazil as a part of Rio’s 2016 Paralympic Games.

Graeae’s Youth Programme, ages 5-12, present Deck the Stalls at the Southbank Centre.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A female performer dressed in a grey shirt and floral skirt, with a striped apron tied around her waist. She is white and has dark brown hair pulled back in a bun.

2017

The first major co-production between the Royal Exchange Theatre and Graeae Theatre Company, The House of Bernarda Alba, presented an all-female cast in a fully accessible production of Lorca’s final play. Trailer linked below.

Reasons to be Cheerful returned in a new production with strategic touring funding from Arts Council England.

Cosmic Scallies by Jackie Hagan was A Royal Exchange Theatre and Graeae Theatre Company co-production that premiered in 2017 at Edinburgh Fringe.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
A man dressed in a soldiers uniform and helmet, climbs a piece of scaffolding. Other soldiers are holding up the scaffolding for him. One man stands with his back to the scaffolding and leans backward to look up at the climbing soldier.

2018

As a part of the UK-India Year of Culture programme and Re:Imagine India, Graeae presented Aruna and the Raging Sunat Marina Beach in Chennai.

Talawa Firsts 2018, was a showcase of a new company of theatre makers brought together by Talawa and Graeae. The company was brought together over six weeks of workshops with leading artists from both companies.

Co-commissioned by 14-18 Now and Blesma, The Limbless Veterans and supported by Calouse Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch), This Is Not For You, was an outdoor performance paying tribute to wounded veterans from the First World War onward.

Graeae presented The Iron Man free walkabout at Liberty Unbound as part of Mayor’s Disability Arts Festival in London, the performance included an interactive workshop for all attending.

Presented at Alexandra Palace Theatre, Graeae’s Rollettes performed as part of Horrible Christmas from the Birmingham Stage Company.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation

2019

Performed by a combination of RADA students and D/deaf and hearing actors from Graeae, Jenny Sealey revisited Sarah Kane’s Blasted.

A re-broadcast of 2008’s adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Alex Bulmer and Jack Thorne, on BBC Radio 4 marking the tragic fire on 15 April.

The Three Sisters Rewired, a Graeae and Naked Productions collaboration for BBC 4 Radio, was a radical retelling of Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters. The adaptation was written and directed by Jenny Sealey and Polly Thomas.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
8 individual polaroid style pictures are strewn across a table cluttered with smashed cake and broken glass.

2020

Written by Paul Siret, Bartholomew Abominations, was another Naked Production and Graeae collaboration for BBC Radio 4, retelling Ben Johnson’s Bartholomew Fair in an entirely new way. Listen to the production via the link below. Click here to read the script.

Graeae took part in the nationwide Signal Fires festival, creating a virtual bonfire night experience, Graeae led a celebration on zoom which included storytelling, sing-and-sign-along, and games.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Two male performers sat on stage. One is looking directly at the other, the other is looking away.

2021

Commissioned by BBC Radio 4 and Audio Content Fund, Night of the Living Flatpacks, was a new series developed by Naked Productions and Graeae with the support of dramatist Sarah Daniels.

Graeae and Tamasha presented a co-production in association with Bush Theatre, 10 Nights by Shahid Iqbal Khan, tells the story of Yasser taking part in I‘tikāf, sleeping, and fasting the mosque for the last ten nights of Ramadan. The production also included an optional audience workshop with Graeae, An Introduction to Writing, inspired by it.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Two performers on stage, sit across from each other at a restaurant table. They are both using wheelchairs, hers in motorised, his is not. The man is speaking and his lines are projected onto the wall behind him. He is saying

2022

A Graeae and Belgrade Theatre co-production for Coventry City of Culture, Kerbs by Michael Southan, tells the truth about romance, sex, and disability. The production opened Coventry 2021 City of Culture celebrations before a national tour.

Commissioned by the Stables for IF: Milton Keynes International Festival, The Paradis Files was a Graeae production in partnership with BBC Concert Orchestra and Curve Theatre. The story of Maria-Theresia von Paradis was a chamber opera that brought an extraordinary, blind historical figure allowing her to reclaim her spot in musical history. The touring production won an award for Excellence in Touring at the UK Theatre Awards. There is a link to a short documentary about the making of the production below.

Returning to the Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, Graeae presented This Woven OThis Woven O, created and devised by Graeae’s Associate Artists, was presented within Oliver Macdonald’s sculptural artwork.

Image: The Paradis Files, photo by Henri T.

Learn more
Return to timeline navigation
Poster for Self-Raising. Jenny Sealey looks forward whilst flour is thrown all around her.

2023

Self-Raising premiered at Edinburgh Fringe. A Graeae production in association with the Soho Theatre and Theatr Lolo, Self-Raising was developed with The Incubator at The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath. Self-Raising is Jenny Sealey’s own story. Her story of growing up Deaf in a family with a secret.

A new hip hop gig theatre show, High Times and Dirty Monsters raises the voices of young disabled people. The production incorporated actors, beatboxers, dancers and stunning visuals.

Trailers

Return to timeline navigation
Jenny Sealey on set wearing a blue dress with pink sunglasses on her head smiling out to the audience.

2024

Following the success of Self-Raising at Edinburgh Fringe, Graeae took the show on a tour throughout England. The tour ran from February through March and stopped at 10 venues.