Haggerston’s Graeae Theatre Company is advocating for the inclusion of London’s deaf and disabled communities, ensuring they are involved in both production and acting roles.
Their upcoming production of Bartholomew Abominations, a reinvention of Ben Jonson’s classic, Bartholomew Fair, will reflect the disability discrimination and English nationalism of the early 21st century. Recorded remotely, it will be broadcast on November 7, 2020 at 3pm on Radio 4.
Inclusion in Britain’s creative industries has been a long-standing issue for many people living with disabilities. The Graeae Theatre is helping to remedy this by putting creatives from the deaf and disabled communities in both producer and starring roles.
Jodi-Alissa Bickerton, Creative Learning Director at Graeae, told the Hackney Post: “We are fired up and committed to ensure Graeae continues to work boldly, authentically and accessibly.”
Graeae’s workforce of teachers and creatives have been committed to breaking down barriers of accessibility for the deaf and disabled communities. Their work has become even more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bickerton continued, “It is so important that in a time when deaf and disabled people are being told to stay inside, that we could still be smashing the glass ceiling and proudly make work for the world to see us and know our stories.”
Other upcoming events at the Graeae Theatre include a virtual Bonfire Night – Signal Fires – which will be taking place from 6pm on November 7. To find out more, visit www.graeae.org.
