Shows which platform disabled and neurodivergent artists
With support from Southwark Council’s Culture Together Fund, Blue Elephant Theatre has embedded inclusion even more deeply into its work over the last year and Festival for All is the culmination of this. It was programmed by Blue Elephant’s Youth Board, as part of their activities within this project.
Andrew Atha(7 March), writer and performer of Robot Penguin, says “I wasn’t sure what to expect when presenting my show in front of the Youth Board. I had no idea what a rapt and engaged group they were going to be. But I had a great time discussing Robot Penguin with them and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to perform this play that’s helped me get across the weirdness I’ve always felt as a neurodiverse creative.”
Each company receives a performance fee, bespoke support and technical assistance to bring their show to the Blue Elephant. The shows are all very different and are at various stages of development.
Robot Penguin by Day Job Theatre ostensibly portrays a presentation by an undercover robotic penguin about his time in the South Pole with real penguins. This OffComm & Baloney Award-wining production aims to describe how being neurodivergent is experienced in this wholly original one person show.
Baggage (14 March) by Lucy Clark is a dance piece about the invisible emotional burdens we carry. A duet, it combines tap, contemporary dance, and original live music to delve into the emotional journey of carrying these unseen weights.
Lucy Clark says “I am really looking forward to bringing Baggage to BET. As a disabled artist, opportunities to showcase my work in a process that is also accessible to me hasn’t happened often. BET have been exceptional at providing resources and opportunities and for giving representation to the disabled community”.
I’m Allergic to People(18-22 March, written by Rebecca Douglass, is a new script, presented as a work in progress, which a focus on the experiences of women and queer people. Longlisted for 2024’s GrassRoutes Prize, it follows the lives of four young adults trying to navigate life after trauma.
Blue Elephant Theatre, 59a Bethwin Rd, Camberwell, SE5 0XT.
Tickets: £14.00, £12.00 (Concessions), £10 (Southwark Residents)
Booking and full details: www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk
