New Disabled-led Access Platform Announce Plays For Their Vault Run

Selected from an open call, Last Word Theatre present five fresh voices with five fresh new perspectives from emerging disabled artists. Curated by Amy Bethan Evans (Libby's Eyes, Bunker Theatre; Tinted,Bloomsbury Festival) and directed by Stephen Bailey (Associate Director on Cost of Living at Hampstead Theatre).

Selected pieces include:

Padre - Sally Davis

Should Have Gone to Lourdes - Stephen Kennedy

How I Almost Climbed Everest - Clare Knights

Inside - Hannah Torrance

The fifth writer is omitted for access reasons.

Access Platform will showcase disabled theatre artists on the London theatre scene, new stories, voices and a bold statement of disabled representation in theatre. They are working with a disabled ensemble and aim to maximise accessibility with access workers, relaxed performances, captions and BSL; along with an ongoing dialogue over audience access needs.

"It's been a thrilling and difficult process to select these five pieces; I believe they represent unique voices, both for disability and theatre as a whole." -Stephen Bailey, Co-Artistic Director

"Stephen and I initially set up this platform because we wanted to give D/deaf and disabled writers the chance to try out things that may not work the fringe scene so often affords non-disabled writers. What we got were 62 scripts, all of which were good enough to be staged in some capacity and at least half of which were at a professional level. We underestimated the amount of D/deaf and disabled talent there is out there just waiting to be included. It's amazing how fruitful putting that stipulation in place can be and with Elske's help, we have a really exciting line-up!" -Amy Bethan Evans,Co-Artistic Director