Meet Our Early Career Creatives
Our Early Career Creatives programme was first developed as part of our ACW funded Connent and Flourish project, Breaking the Box; which saw Deaf and disabled early career creatives on placements and developing access consultancy with venues and productions across Wales. In 2022, thanks to British Council Wales, we supported our ECC’s on a trip to the Edinburgh Festival for networking and development purposes.
Ciaran Fitzgerald
“I am an emerging writer from Port Talbot, a graduate of the BA Scriptwriting course at the University of South Wales in 2019. My first play Chasing Rainbows was commissioned for R&D by Pontardawe Arts Centre. I have been a member of Sgwenwyr Ifanc Fran Wen, and The Oli Lansley Mentoring Scheme for writers run by WildChild. An extract of my play Blockbusters was showcased at the Park Theatre, London in September 2021. I am currently developing my first TV commissions ‘The Special Ones’ with Tiger Aspect Productions and ‘The Old Enemy’ with Rangabee. I was also a member of the Sherman Theatre Writers Group for 2021-22.
I first got to know about Taking Flight, when I was a member of Mess up the Mess youth theatre, when I attended a disability awareness workshop run by Elise. I first worked with Taking Flight in 2013 on ‘Me & You,’ an R&D looking at creating work for children with PMLD. Since then, I have volunteered at Taking Flight Youth Theatre, and recently completed the first stage of an R&D on my new play ‘A Real Sister.’ I am looking forward to working on the second stage of this R&D in 2023, and taking this play into production with Taking Flight!”
Emily Corby
“I am Emily Rose and I am a Welsh deaf artist and I have worked for Deaf Hub Cardiff.
I’ve lived in a lot of places but keep coming back to Cardiff! Probably where my heart is.
I used to go to University but it didn’t work out well for me so here I am.
I am hoping that this placement will give me a path to find where I could enjoy working and also hoping that I could gain some opportunities working in the theatre world. Thank you for giving me this wicked opportunity.”
Taking Flight will be my first stepping stone to my dreams of working in the theatre costume industry, expanding My knowledge and experiences in a professional theatre working environment”.
Macsen McKay
Macsen McKay is an actor and theatre maker from Cardiff. He has worked with companies such as Told By An Idiot, The Llanarth Group, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, and is excited to be an Early Career Creative with Taking Flight after working with them on The Curious Case of Aberlliw and Jim Cartrwight’s Road in 2022.
Bones Carter
“I like doing anything where I get to be creative and challenge my skills as an artist, I am mostly interested in set and prop design but I generally love being involved in theatre. I also have some experience in carpentry and as a stage technician. I started working for Taking Flight after 2 attempt at getting my A levels made me realise it was better for me to apply my skills practically rather than pursue them academically. I am autistic and Taking Flight has accommodated me and given me a welcoming community where I have the opportunity to learn new skills and be involved in something important.”