Breaking the Box
Breaking the Box is a pan-Wales partnership funded by Arts Council Wales Connect and Flourish Project.
The partners are: Taking Flight Theatre, Hynt, Disability Arts Cymru, Carmarthenshire Theatres, Pontio and RCT Theatres.
Breaking the Box is developing a network of inclusive, accessible venues in Wales that are confident & supported in welcoming diverse artists, backstage crew & administrators as well as audiences. The project provides training & support to emerging Deaf & disabled theatre workforce via the Early Career Creatives programme and is inbuilding future roles for Deaf & disabled creatives to Wales’s venues, thus reimagining the creative workforce. We’re working to identify a benchmark for Wales in terms of where we’re at with inclusive practice & access as well as sharing project learning across the sector in Wales & beyond.
This work has seen us work with Deaf Theatre-maker and facilitator Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford as Project Manager for the ECC Programme offering placement opportunities, support and networking to Emily Rose Corby & Mason Lima, the Breaking the Box early career creatives. We have also supported Emily, Mason and other early career Deaf and disabled creatives to attend the Edinburgh Festival as well as training opportunities and placements. With Dr Louise Fryer, we have trained a cohort of new Wales-based audio describers, including describers who can work in Welsh. All venue partner staff have received Deaf and Disability awareness training.
Having worked together over the last two years to develop this ground-breaking programme, we are delighted to have received another round of funding to continue to develop this work over the next two years. The next two years will see us working with our previous partners and four disabled freelance partners with lived experience and creative practice. One Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent provocateur will be based at each venue, giving access a place at the table, to provoke and challenge usual ways of working, find opportunities for and support Early Career Creatives (ECCs). There will be a 12-month programme for 4 new backstage ECCs including paid training opportunities, and a training bursary for 5 actors to address the dearth of disabled and Deaf performers.
Marking the close of the first stage of the project, we are holding an industry sharing day on Wednesday 24th May at Ffwrnes, Llanelli.
Please join us to hear how we approached the project and our learning for the next stage of Breaking the Box.
Taking Flight Theatre
Chapter Arts Centre
Market Rd
Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1QE
029 2023 0020
Youth Theatre meets at:
University of South Wales
86-88 Adam St
Cardiff CF24 2FN
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