In this episode Michèle Taylor talks to Claire Hodgson and Jamie Beddard, joint Artistic Directors of Diverse City – A performing arts company who make bold, inclusive performance work, that supports artists to develop and grow, as well as work with multiple communitues to open up the arts to them.
Claire is a Theatre, Dance and Circus Director, committed to achieving social justice. Claire founded Diverse City in 2005 and is the co-founder of Extraordinary Bodies, the UK’s leading professional integrated circus company.
Jamie is the Joint Artistic Director of Diverse City with Claire, and Lead Artist for Extraordinary Bodies, as well as a prominent UK disabled actor, writer, director, and advocate for inclusion in the performing arts
Their mission at Diverse City:
“To fight for equality in every artistic arena: the boardroom, the audience, backstage, and centre stage should all be truly representative and we're here to make that happen.”
A brilliant podcast episode which delves deep into their personal fights against ableist barriers and the critical importance of allyship and how being an ally works in real life situations. They also chat about their joint role – and the freedom that brings to their creativity and personal development.
extraordinarybodies.org.uk which covers all of their circus work
Thank you to Jamie and Claire for such fascinating and open conversation.
Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE.
Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. MBE, Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon.
Michèle takes the Ramps on the Moon podcast straight into the engine room of mainstream theatre. Across all episodes, she chats with actors, directors, producers and chief executives to uncover the joys, the tensions, the breakthroughs and the lessons in placing disabled people at the centre of cultural organisations.
Michèle shares the realities of the ‘now’ and what the future can hold for disability equality in the arts with Anti-Ableism weaved into every part of an organisation.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on this podcast, or have a subject you'd like Michèle to talk about – please contact: zanna@rampsonthemoon.co.uk
This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk