Graeae tours nationally (and sometimes internationally) up to 3 major productions a year. The company works with disabled artists and creative professionals throughout the process and tries to employ disabled designers, writers and directors whenever possible.

Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director, aims to create “aesthetically accessible” productions. As part of this multi-sensory experience and dedication to making the type of productions we would like to go and see ourselves, our shows often fuse sign language interpretation and audio description into the action.

We try to do this as creatively as possible:

In Blasted by Sarah Kane, which toured in 2006/7, 3 Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) were projected onto a screen behind the actors. In addition, the actors read aloud their actions, using Kane’s script to enhance the quality and drama of the description. The result was electrifying, as all the elements combined to create an engaging spectacle for disabled and non-disabled audiences alike.

“Jenny Sealey's production goes to immense, creative and sometimes thrilling lengths to make itself legible to people with impaired vision and hearing.” The Scotsman on Blasted

In Whiter Than Snow by Mike Kenny, the SLI performed alongside the actors, interacting with the story, forming part of the scene and even having her own character.

“The story is developed with use of sign language and audio description, which are integral to the production, thus enabling deaf and blind children to sit alongside each other. One group guided by the signing and visual language and the others by the words. This provides a firmly stressed narrative containing much laughter, within a plot that is never far away from us.” The Stage on Whiter than Snow

Accessibility is at the heart of all of Graeae’s work – rehearsals and auditions are designed to be accessible to all (see Sightlines video for further details), we only visit theatres that meet our requirements (if you would like to complete an access audit please contact us here), and our cast and crew tour with an access support team where needed.