Learning disability theatre company Access all Areas has teamed up with the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to offer professional training in performance and devised theatre to adults with learning disabilities.
The Performance Making Diploma will run on weekdays, weekends and evenings from January to July with a cohort of 15 learning-disabled students who will gain professional and accredited training in physical and devised theatre practices. The course includes guidance and advice on employment with support from Triple A’gency, the Access All Areas professional acting agency for actors with learning disabilities.
Nick Llewellyn, Artistic Director, says of the scheme, “This is a fantastic partnership with such a prestigious drama school. People with learning disabilities have a history of institutionalisation and prejudice of what they can achieve.
"This new diploma course, with thanks to the Leverhulme Trust, creates a life-changing opportunity for 15 people per year to access professional performance training. Not only are we developing access and inclusion for a marginalised group of adults but we are paving a way for public perceptions to be challenged and hopefully eradicated once and for all.”
The deadline for applications is 28 October. Application forms can be downloaded from the Access All Areas web site. The initiative is supported by the Leverhulme Arts Scholarship.