“I entered the programme an emerging artist and I am leaving as a mid-career artist with a plethora of experience, connections and opportunities all stemming from this programme.”
BEYOND Participant
As Graeae’s BEYOND initiative enters its third year, the ground-breaking programme designed to remove barriers and transform the careers of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists across the UK, today issues an invitation to artists to participate.
Moving on from the lingering spectre of trauma often is an incredibly difficult process to undertake, for some, moving on proving to be too much. Painful revelations about someone you thought you knew resulting in devastating effects. Fearless in her observation of how a resilient, unapologetic family of women take on the world post the passing of an abusive patriarchal presence, Clean Break and Deborah Bruce presents Dixon and Daughters.
Courtesy of Helen Murray.
Ramps on the Moon is changing the arts and culture sector by elevating the presence of deaf and disabled people into the heart of theatre, on and off stage. Michèle Taylor, Director for Change, co-founder of Ramps on the Moon and UK leader on Disability Equality, has launched her first podcast series where she delves deep into mainstream theatre to discover what the realities are now, and what the future holds for disability equality in the arts.
Michèle talks to industry guests about their personal experiences as well as their organisational learning. The conversation is open and honest as guests reveal their own journeys – their triumphs, learning, failures and what it means to change a company’s culture around ableism.
Societally, we’re making strides to better represent stories told from varied perspectives, a notion that’ll continue to grace our tv screens and stages, and one that’ll continue to enliven our media landscape in this new era. Currently on season 2 and available to stream on HBO, crime drama Perry Mason has enthralled viewers – set in 1930s LA, the show follows the eponymous defence lawyer as he navigates his way through the fractured city as he uncovers unpleasant truths. Currently starring as Mateo Gallardo, actor Peter Mendoza tells us more about preparing for the role, the importance of Latino representation and what we can expect from this season!
Bringing in the Edinburgh International Festival’s 76th year is the overriding question ‘where do we go from here?’ A provocation introduced quite rightly so by newly appointed artistic director Nicola Benedetti – the world renowned and award winning violinist who came to prominence when she won the coveted BBC Young Musicisn accolade in 2004. Aware of what she’d like to explore and examine in this year’s festival, Benedetti would like for the month long event, from the 4th to 27th August, to provide the deepest possible experience amongst the years. As someone who didn’t go to many arts events when she was younger, there’s an understanding as to why people may find theatre inaccessible – so this needs to change.
With just a week to go before the end of Danny Lee Wynter’s debut this critic is being asked why review so late in the run. Well, generally a play does evolve after every night, audiences impact the mood, actors find new meanings in words, gain a comfortability in their roles and are emboldened to stray a little from the directors vision in the rehearsal rooms. In the case of the Black Superhero, we have an entirely different lead actor. Written to be performed by Wynter himself “due to personal circumstances, Danny Lee Wynter has taken the difficult decision to withdraw from playing the role of David”. So, let’s give Lewis Brown the chance to earn his flowers and also, continue the discourse by critics beyond first impressions.
A term indicative of where we’re at in the generational cultural war, ‘Snowfkake’ has become synonymous with both the Millennial and Gen Z generations who are deemed to be seen as easily offended and self righteous. A marker of our digital age, social media has become the ‘town square’ for people to discuss, debate and connect. Tapping into this phenomenon, writer Robert Boulton presents Snowflakes – an closer look at what happens when digital vigilantism takes an unexpected turn.
Courtesy of Jennifer Evans.
Courtesy of Emma Sheldrick.
The world of the imagination is a wonderful thing, something prevalent within our earlier years and encouraged, but fades as we grow older. Inspired by her time at the Yard Theatre’s Young Artist Club, 10 year old Mazvita would become enthralled by the idea of transforming into an egg – something picked up on by the Yard, who would then go onto contact performance artist Daniel Oliver who in turn would help to materialise this initial idea into The Egg Show – a show about… you’ve guessed it… eggs! Due to show as part of NOW23 at the Yard Theatre from 21st to 23rd April, Daniel tells us more about what to expect!
Theatre producers Chris Wheeler and Paul Morrissey are pleased to share a brand-new digital subscription platform, A Spotlight On. This eagerly anticipated announcement took place yesterday in the heart of London’s West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre. A Spotlight On is a brand-new subscription based streaming service aiming to shine a light on everyone who makes theatre possible.
On Tuesday 25th April 2023, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Finance and Resource Committee will consider Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society’s request for approval to progress to formal discussions for a long-term lease of the South Bridge Resource Centre; as the preferred location for a new Fringe Community Hub.
