Symposium - 'Alternative Dramaturgies informed by a Deaf and Disability Perspective'

North West Disability Arts Forum (NWDAF) in partnership with Kaite O'Reilly (Symposium Consultant/Arts and Humanities Research Council Creative Fellow) and Liverpool Hope University will host the second of two regional symposia, which are the culmination of Kaite O'Reilly's AHRC Creative Fellowship 2003-6 at the School of Performance Arts, Exeter University, where she undertook practice based research into 'Alternative Dramaturgies informed by a Deaf/Disability perspective. This second regional symposium will take place in the North West on Monday 6th November 2006 (10am-5pm), at Liverpool Hope University, School of Performing Arts, Shaw Street Campus. The symposium will be a day long event including lunch, (at a cost of £20

concessions).

The first symposium took place in the South West region on 18th March 2006, hosted by Kaite O'Reilly, Exeter University and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The programme content had an academic focus and involved a sharing of academic papers, work demonstrations, presentations and panel discussions, led by Disabled and Deaf academics and practitioners.

The second symposium will continue the discussion within an educational and learning context and will focus on practice based research illustrated by practical demonstrations, led by disabled/Deaf practitioners and academics. Questions posed will include: -

1. How do alternative dramaturgies subvert or re-invent conventional dramaturgies?

2. What can the mainstream learn from a Deaf and Disability perspective regarding performance practice?

3. How might developments, (e.g. integrated sign interpretation, innovations in form and process), impact on or be included into mainstream practice?

4. Do inclusive practices within the mainstream dilute Deaf and Disability cultural identity?

The programme format will involve a panel discussion, chaired by Jonathan Meth (Director of Writernet), interspersed with lecture demonstrations, moments of practice and performances presented by members of the panel (Deaf and Disabled performers/practitioners). Participants will be allocated approximately 30-60 minutes to present their findings and invite questions from the floor and members of the panel.

Indicative speakers/practitioners include : -

* Mat Fraser (Actor/Writer) UK (to be confirmed)

* Petra Kuppers (Academic/Practitioner) USA (to be confirmed)

* The Fingersmiths Ltd (Jean St Clair, Kaite O'Reilly and Jeni Draper) UK

* Alicia Grace (emerging Performance Artist/Disability Performance Studies Theorist ) UK

The South West symposium discussion was of interest to academics, researchers, drama school teachers, local government organisations, Disability Arts organisations, practitioners and professionals (e.g. representatives from RADA, Reading University, Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Equata, UWE, Devon Consortium of Disabled Artists, Dorset County Council, Theatre Royal Plymouth, British Council India to name a few), while the North West symposium discussion will be of interest to practitioners working in the performing arts, educators and learners, theatre programmers/artistic directors and Deaf and Disabled Artists/Practitioners/Students.

Identified Artists/Speakers/Practitioners

Kaite O'Reilly - Playwright/Dramaturg/AHRC Creative Fellow/Symposium Consultant (UK)

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Kaite O'Reilly is in the final year of a three year Creative Fellowship at the School of Performance Arts, Exeter University - enabling her to develop her research through practice, ('Alternative Dramaturgies informed by a Deaf and Disability Perspective'). Kaite O'Reilly writes professionally for theatre, radio and film. Recent/current projects: Bilingual performance with the Fingersmiths Ltd at Drill Hall, London, 5-16 July 06; 'Rean's Girls', Afternoon Play on BBC Radio 4, to be transmitted Dec 12th 06. Kaite O'Reilly will edit the first book on Disability Art in Ireland for ADI/Create, to be published November 06. She has been involved in the Disability culture and the movement since 1986 when she was a member of Graeae Theatre Company, reputedly the foremost theatre company of sensory and physically Disabled practitioners in the UK. She wrote 'Peeling' for Graeae which toured nationally twice, became part of British Council's 'Best of British' showcase and was produced by BBC Radio 3's prestigious Sunday Night Theatre in 2003. 'Peeling' won the Theatre-Wales/New Welsh Review 'Best New Writing' award. She was also winner of the Peggy Ramsey Award with 'Yard' at the Bush Theatre and Manchester Evening News best play of 2004 for 'Perfect' with Contact Theatre.

Dr Petra Kuppers - Academic/Practitioner (USA)

Petra Kuppers is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Department of English Literature and Language, and Associate Faculty in the Women's studies department. She is also the Artistic Director of The Olimpias Performance research series, a community artist and a Disability culture activist. During 2005 she was the first Caroline Plummer fellow in Community Dance at the University of Otago, New Zealand. She is the author of 'Disability and Contemporary Performance: Bodies on Edge' (Routledge, 2003) and 'The Scar of Visibility: Medical Performances and Contemporary Arts' (Minnesota, forthcoming 2006). She is also currently finishing a manuscript called 'Community Performance' - an introduction for Routledge Press.

Mat Fraser - Actor/Writer (UK)

In 1995 Mat Fraser took up acting and writing, is first play 'Sealboy:freak' toured nationally and internationally. Recent tv/film acting credits include Chris in BBC2's film 'Every time you look at me', Calchas in U.S. TV's 'Helen of Troy' , and Bjom in Toga Productions 'Crip Orgy 2. He's made documentaries for Channel 4, including 'Born Freak' and the recent 'Happy Birthday Thalidomide.'and has just finished his first co written Kung Fu short, 'The Art of War'. His last stage appearance was in New York, playing the lead role of Duncan in 'The Flid Show'. His latest show 'Thalidomide' the musical is currently touring the U.K.

The Fingersmiths Ltd (UK)

The Fingersmiths Ltd, (Jean St Clair, Kaite O'Reilly and Jeni Draper are exploring an emerging aesthetic of bilingual performance incorporating theatricalised British Sign Language, and spoken/projected English. 'In Praise of Fallen Women' makes its debut at the Drill Hall Theatre London in July 2006. They will present a work demonstration/lecture about their innovative practice.

Alicia Grace - Performance Artist (UK)

Alicia Grace is an emerging Performance Artist based in Devon. She graduated from Dartington College of Arts in 2003 with a First Class Honours degree in Theatre and Arts management. As a dancer, writer and vocalist her work spans across disciplines and contexts. Credits for 2004/05 include dance film and poem 'A Junction of Imprints' commissioned by the Countryside Agency/Shropshire Arts, and solo performances of dance/poem 'No Wonder my Spine Cries' for 'The Talk Show' Live literature event (MAC B'ham) and Dance Feast (Landmark theatre, Ilfracombe). Her own performance work searches to destabilise traditional theatrical/dance form in order to find potential in the physical limitations which she experiences as a survivor of Cancer and M.E. Her current work -in -progress, 'Anchoress' explores the positive relationship between impaired mobility and a person's sense of locality. Alicia has also worked for Equata (the South West Disability Arts Development agency) delivering Dance-specific Disability Equality Training to dance artists from across the region.