Join us in The Green Room 

Thursday 29th April 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Sophie Stone of the DH Ensemble talks to Nickie Miles-Wildin Interpreted by: Anna Kitson, Sophie Allen Nickie Miles-Wildin is Associate Director at Graeae Theatre Company where she leads their new writing programme. Nickie was just appointed as co-Artistic Director and CEO of DaDa Fest, Liverpool. She is also Head of Young People’s Programme at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Previously she was Resident Assistant Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre as part of the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme. As an actor Nickie is best known for her role as Miranda in the Paralympics Opening Ceremony London 2012 and also Beryl – her Bingo playing leopard print wearing alter ego. Nickie loves engaging with communities and creating original, unique, accessible work that can promote change. You can find all previous episode of #TheGreenRoom_UK at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room Royal Exchange: https://www.royalexchange.co.uk RTYDS: https://www.rtyds.co.uk DaDa Fest: https://www.dadafest.co.uk Nickie Miles-Wilden and Grace Ng: https://www.dadafest.co.uk/article/nickie-miles-wildin-and-grace-ng-announced-as-new-joint-head-of-liverpool-s-dadafest Graeae: https://graeae.org Jamie Baddard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Beddard Rhine Stone Rollers: https://www.timeout.com/london/dance/rhinestone-rollers Opening Ceremony of the Olympics: https://www.olympic.org/opening-ceremonies

Thursday 22nd April 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Jennifer Bates of the DH Ensemble talks to Rachel Nwokoro Interpreted by: Nakisayi Laursen and Tracey Tyer Rachel is a multidisciplinary artist - www.rachelshapes.com. She recently won The Stage Debut award for Best Performer in a play for her performance in Arinzé Kene's Little Baby Jesus, directed by JMK award winner Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu at The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond. Rachel also won the inaugural Disability Champion award at the 2020 Black British Theatre Awards. "Rachel Nwokoro delivers Joanne’s speeches with a lyrical flow that could give rapper Lady Leshurr a run for her money. She’s sensational." ***** The Stage. "Rachel Nwokoro is captivating." ***** The Guardian You can find all previous episode of #TheGreenRoom_UK at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room Rachel Nwokoro’s website: https://www.rachelshapes.com Black Mind Blooms: https://linktr.ee/BlackMind Koko Brown: https://heykoko.com Rachel’s Book ‘Little You’: https://www.rachelshapes.com/publications “How Much?” Spoken Word: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZ2KhjrhbE&t=37s Meet the creatives of Funeral Flowers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1bI_SDGPxc Emma Dennis-Edwards: https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/emma-dennis-edwards Article on Power Play: http://exeuntmagazine.com/features/edinburgh-review-funeral-flowers-somebody-power-play/ Sophia Tara Compton: https://www.sophietaracompton.com Rachel’s Agent Wendy Scozzaro: https://felixdewolfe.com

Thursday 15th April 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Jo Sargeant of Hot Coals Productions talks to Gemma Harvey Interpreted by: Anna Kitson, Natasha Trantom In Gemma’s own words: “Well, I’m an actor. But not just an actor, I’m a writer, a theatre maker and a voiceover artist...I’m also a deviser and collaborator specialising in working with learning disabled and autistic artists…oh and I’m a filmmaker too. It was after finishing this incredibly long sentence and pausing for breath, I realised that I should probably find a place to share myself and all of the wonderful creative things I do with the world. So here it is: my oeuvre. Inspired by writer-performers such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Michaela Coel and Milly Thomas, I’m hugely passionate about continuing to break the mould for women in theatre and strive to tell female led stories that address important social issues. In 2015, I co-founded Loquitur Theatre, a company focusing on achieving greater gender balance throughout the industry. Passionate about equality and inclusivity, I regularly work as a freelance theatre-maker and collaborator with award winning theatre company, Access All Areas – creating urban, disruptive performance for learning disabled and autistic artists. In 2018 I co-founded The BareFace Collective, a disabled theatre company dedicated to putting artists with disabilities centre stage. With an ever growing to do list, I realise this will most probably have to be written on my tombstone if it’s ever to get finished. When I’m not busy creating theatre, watching theatre, hanging out at gigs and drinking pints in pubs, you’ll find me perfecting my headstand or gorging on some form of nut butter.” You can find all previous episode of #TheGreenRoom_UK at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room Biography for Gemma: https://gemmaharvey.uk/about Access All Areas: http://www.accessallareastheatre.org Jules Robertson (start of Holby City Gemma works with): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Mm8s7l2Ys Access All Areas profile on Jules: http://www.accessallareastheatre.org/jules-robertson That Film :-( …: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-55931544 What is an Intimacy Coordinator?: https://lfs.org.uk/workshops/lfs-workshops/3096/intimacy-coordination Stephen Joseph Theatre: https://www.sjt.uk.com Loquitur Theatre: https://www.loquiturtheatre.co.uk BFI access costs: https://www.bfi.org.uk/get-funding-support/access-support-bfi-film-fund-film-audience-network-applicants Cian Binchy: http://www.accessallareastheatre.org/cian-binchy ‘LOVE’ - the short film: https://gemmaharvey.uk/love ‘I Hate Susie’: https://www.sky.com/watch/i-hate-suzie Piece on access in ‘I Hate Susie’: https://limpingchicken.com/2020/08/27/deaf-representation-in-skys-new-dark-drama-i-hate-suzie-sky-atlantic-now-tv-billie-piper-lucy-prebble-daniel-ings/ The Spill Magazine: https://www.thespillmag.com/about The Green Room on the South Bank: https://www.grlondon.co.uk

Thursday 8th April 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Erin Siobhan Hutching of The DH Ensemble talks to Laura Haughey and Rachel Turner from New Zealand Deaf and hearing led company Equal Voices Arts. BSL-English Interpretation by: Anna Kitson, Kyra Pollitt, Rebekah Spencer. Episode has captions & Audio Description. Some New Zealand Sign Language is used throughout. Laura started her theatre career aged 17, touring in the UK and Europe with a Deaf – led dance theatre company, performing on international stages in both British Sign Language and English. She combined her theatre and dance work with a physiotherapy degree and a year of specialised anatomy training to enhance her understanding of the body. Her PhD found the site where the two passions of arts and science were combined in the field of psychophysical performance training. In her work, Laura loves examining how we communicate through the body, and finding new creative possibilities working across languages and cultures. She is interested in how embracing diversity can impact positively on creative approach. Her research interests are in working across languages and cultures, inclusive theatre practice and neuroscience. Laura has taught internationally, in conservatoires, drama schools and universities, and is now based in New Zealand convening the Theatre Studies programme at the University of Waikato. Since arriving in New Zealand, Laura has directed and devised two large scale original theatre productions, working with Deaf and hearing actors. At The End Of My Hands toured across New Zealand in 2016, and Salonica toured internationally to prestigious theatres such as the National Theatre in Belgrade in 2017, then in New Zealand in 2018. Laura has recently been awarded with the inaugural ‘NZSL in Arts’ award, presented at Parliament in May 2018. Rachel is a producer for Equal Voices Arts, and is also our NZSL consultant, working closely with the creative team. She is Deaf and a native New Zealand Sign Language user. She organises and helps to manage our many different projects, including our performances, tours and our community workshops. Rachel keeps us all organised on tours, and makes sure things run smoothly. She has a keen eye for detail and loves playing with the language options that NZSL provides. She works with international Deaf artists to ensure the language choices on stage are in the hands of a first language NZSL user. Rachel is passionate about raising the profile of signed languages on stage, and supporting Deaf performers and Deaf audiences. Outside of her work with Equal Voices Arts, Rachel is a qualified NZSL tutor, and supports young Deaf people in educational contexts. She is the wife of actor Shaun Fahey - https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/111962120/hamilton-couple-carved-a-love-story-out-of-thin-air You can find all previous episode of #TheGreenRoom_UK at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room The Green Room: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room Equal Voices Arts: https://equalvoicesarts.com NZSL: https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-sign-language At the End of My Hands: https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=8781 Shaun Fahey biography: https://equalvoicesarts.com/people/shaun-fahey/ Shaun Fahey short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjXpxXVbj4s More on ‘Salonica’ and Equal Voices Arts: https://artsaccessadvocates.org.nz/equal%20voices%20arts%20profile Denise Armstrong write this article on ‘The Theatricality of Sign Language on Stage’: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13528165.2019.1641327 Thora Hubner: https://equalvoicesarts.com/people/thora-hubner/ An example of Māori sign language: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ag_85qbwE PAANZ: https://www.pannz.org.nz/arts-market/ Jean St Clair: https://twitter.com/msjeanstclair?lang=en Katie O’Reilly: https://kaiteoreilly.com/about What IS “L&P”?: https://www.adventuresofalondonkiwi.com/2015/01/lemon-and-paeroa-story-of-famous-new.html Buy your Tim Tams here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TimTams-Arnotts-Original-Biscuits-Pack/dp/B00IQGRHFG Toffee Pops: https://kiwicornerdairy.com/griffins-toffee-pops-original

Thursday 1st April 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Clare-Louise English of Hot Coals Productions talks to Benjamin Wilson Interpreted by: Sophie Allen, Martin Fox-Roberts Ben is The Agent for Change at Sheffield Theatres as part of Ramps on the Moon. Ben has worked for a number of years as an actor, writer, director and workshop facilitator. Often having to overcome prejudice and barriers that the industry put in his way due to his visual impairment. As co-founder and associate artist of award-winning theatre company Brick Wall Ensemble, Ben co-wrote and directed original, new works such as Rose By Another Name and The Remarkable Case of You. In 2015 Ben’s one-man show about life as a visually impaired actor, Visible, was met with acclaim. After writing his Master’s Degree Thesis at Birmingham school of Acting around the subject of how the industry can become more accessible to visually impaired and blind artists Ben continued to work as an actor across the industry, attempting to force mainstream theatre companies to make their work more accessible and refusing to let his visual impairment be a barrier to success within the industry. You can find all previous episode of #TheGreenRoom_UK at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room Ramps on the Moon: https://www.rampsonthemoon.co.uk Agents for Change: https://www.rampsonthemoon.co.uk/news/new-agents-for-change/ Sheffield Theatres: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Brick Wall Ensemble - https://www.facebook.com/BrickWallEnsemble/ Clare’s interview with Polly Jerrold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKT2GNY3BZs&t=1277s Amy Leach’s production of ‘Road’ at Leeds Playhouse: https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/road/

Thursday 25th March 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Jennifer Bates of the DH Ensemble talks to Bea Webster and Brooklyn Melvin Interpreted by: Erin Hutching, Anna Kitson, Julie Thompson. Content warning: Strong language Bea Webster is a deaf Scottish-Thai actor and theatre-maker who graduated with a BA Performance in British Sign Language and English from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Recent Theatre Credits: The Winter’s Tale (Royal Shakespeare Company) Peeling (Taking Flight Theatre Company), Mother Courage and Her Children (Red Ladder Theatre Company), Love and Information (Solar Bear/RCS) A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Last Woman Left, Scavengers, Antigone (RCS). Bea wrote, performed and directed House of Ladies for RCS’s On The Verge festival at the Citizens Theatre. She also co-wrote and devised Everything Will Be Perfect, playing drag queen Lyn Chee alongside Jamie Rea as Vikki Ryan. She has published a poem in both BSL and English titled Long Lost Lover, about her birthplace of Thailand. She also performed in BBC Social’s How not to be d*cks to deaf people. She was nominated Best Actress in a Play at The Stage Debut Awards 2019 for her role of Kattrin in Mother Courage and Her Children, and is also one of the Playwrights Studio Scotland’s mentored playwrights for 2020. Bea communicates in both Spoken English and British Sign Language. Bea experienced a lack of access to professional performance training until the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland set up their acting program which is accessible to Deaf BSL users. Brooklyn is a deaf actor with BSL and English. Credits include: Oliver Twist (dir. Amy Leach) for Leeds Playhouse/Ramps on the Moon, Last Women Left and Love and Information, RCS. Short films: Y, XYZ with RCS, The Studio (dir. EJ Raymond) and A Love Divided (dir. Ian Bustard). Brooklyn trained at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduating from the BSL and English Drama BA. Brooklyn Melvin plays the eponymous ‘Oliver Twist’ at Leeds Playhouse. Adapted by Bryony Lavery, every performance will feature the use of integrated creative sign language, audio description and captioning. You can find all previous episode of #TheGreenRoom_UK at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room Bea’s poem: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/long-lost-lover/ The Mitchell Library Glasgow: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/venues/the-mitchell-library Solar Bear: https://solarbear.org.uk Deaf Youth Theatre: https://solarbear.org.uk/deaf-youth-theatre/ The Royal Conservatoire School: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/ba-performance/ ‘Squeeze Yoghurt’ by Bea performed by Brooklyn: https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/latest/squeezy-yoghurt Get your Frubes here (other yoghurt based products available): https://www.frubes.co.uk National Theatre of Scotland: https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com ‘Is This a Fairytale?’ By Be a Webster: https://positivestories.scot/plays/is-this-a-fairytale/ ‘Times Like These’: https://youtu.be/h8SCwrztq3c Sphinx Lab: https://sphinxtheatre.co.uk/sphinx-30/

18th March 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Stephen Collins of The DH Ensemble talks to Alexandria Wailes and Frank Dattolo. BSL Interpreted by: Anna Kitson and Martin Fox-Roberts ASL Interpreted by: Bill Moody and Candace Broecker Penn Frank L Dattolo, a Queens, NYC native, is excited to collaborate with STRIVE! Frank’s theatre experiences, including multiple acting and directing roles with National Theatre of the Deaf, New York Deaf Theatre, and Interboro Repertory Theatre. As part of his work at NTD, he organized the World Wide Deaf Theatre Conference. In 2014, he portrayed Laurent Clerc in Carol Schneider’s NYC original production of MOVEMENT OF THE SOUL, along with Alexandria Wailes, and directed by Joe Cacaci. He is one of the founders of Senses Askew Company and A.C.O.R.N. Theatre Camp. Frank has also taped guided tours for Acoustiguide, available in museums along the East Coast: the National 9/11 Memorial Museum and Park, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, United Nations, Casa Loma in Toronto, and the National Gallery of Art in DC. He has served as ASL advisor to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and mentored students in theatrical interpreting with Julliard and the Theatre Development Fund, as well as for Hands On. Currently, Frank is High School Supervisor at Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens, NY and this year marks his 23rd year with the school. While at Lexington, he cut: couldn’t help himself but directed high school productions of MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, OUR TOWN, GLASS MENAGERIE, and an original parable pantomime play, titled QUEST. He was honored to conceive and direct RED, WHITE, and BLUE, a tribute to Ralph and Ricky Lauren. When his schedule allows him to work in theatre, he seizes the day! Alexandria Wailes received a 2020 Obie Citation for Sustained Excellence as an Artist and Advocate. She received a Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play For Colored Girls at The Public. Broadway: Deaf West’s Spring Awakening, Big River (Tony Honoree for Ensemble). Off Broadway: Playwright Horizon’s I Was Most Alive with You, A Kind Of Alaska. Film: ‘The Hyperglot’; TV: ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’, ‘High Maintenance’, ‘Little America’, ‘Nurse Jackie’. As Director of Artistic Sign Language: the revival of Broadway’s Children Of A Lesser God and King Lear; TV/Film: This Close S. 1 & 2; Quantico S.3; A Quiet Place 1 & 2; Wonderstruck. Ms. Wailes advised ASL interpreted teams for Hands On and TDF on numerous Broadway shows. Works as an educator for The Jewish Museum, the Whitney & LES Tenement museum, conducting ASL tours. Alexandria Wailes was a company member of Heidi Latsky Dance and is now a member of Forest of Arden. She is also a co-founder of BHo5.org. Proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA and SDC. www.alexandriawailes.com You can follow Stephen Collins on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/beingstephenc?lang=en What is American Sign Language? https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/american-sign-language Alexandria Wailes biography: http://www.alexandriawailes.com/bio.html Leni Lenape: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenape National Theatre of the Deaf USA: https://ntd.org ACORN Theatre Camp: http://www.signtalkfoundation.org/franks-corner/franks-corner/ Lexington School and Centre for the Dear in Manhattan: https://www.lexnyc.org Deaf West Theatre Company: https://www.deafwest.org ‘Spring Awakening’ production in TIME magazine: https://time.com/4062110/spring-awakening-broadway-deaf-west/ 9/11 Memorial and Museum: https://www.911memorial.org Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com Movements of the Soul: https://clercsinferno.com Senses Askew Company: https://www.facebook.com/sensesaskew/ What is a Director of Artistic Sign Language?: https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/trailers/process-talk-what-director-artistic-sign-language/ New Victory Theatre: https://newvictory.org You can find all previous episode of #TheGreenRoom_UK at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room

11th March 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Jo Sargeant of Hot Coals Productions talks to Harri Marshall and Alison Pottinger Interpreted by: Anna Kitson, Caroline Ryan and Iain Hodgetts Speech to text reports: Norma MacHaye Harri is a deaf director based in York and has been working in this dirty business that we call show since 2012. She has received training from the Young Vic, RTYDS as well as the Bristol Old Vic and directed a total of 9 shows. Harri has an affinity for contemporary theatre including genres like new writing, adaptation and verbatim. She advocate for D/deaf and disabled creatives and is a self-proclaimed proactive busy body! Alison currently work as both a stage manager and BSL/English Interpreter. In addition she teaches at Rose Bruford College. She has joined the collective because she believes that off stage roles are not widely known about, especially among d/Deaf and ethnic minority communities. She has enjoyed a 30 year career off stage and she would like to see others enjoying a similarly rewarding and creative career. Technical Theatre BSL is for d/Deaf people and others working with them – interpreters, directors, stage managers etc. The aim is to promote off stage careers to d/Deaf people and to provide a resource for access to training. The glossary of terms is available here: www.techtheatrebsl.wordpress.com You can find all episodes on our website here: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room “Lampy” definition - http://lampy.urbanup.com/13480986#.YCaze12pjBI.twitter Article on Harri Marshall - https://www.hearinglikeme.com/meet-harri-marshall-a-deaf-director/ Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme - https://www.rtyds.co.uk Graeae - https://graeae.org Royal Academy of Dramatic Art - https://www.rada.ac.uk Clare-Louise English - https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/clare-louise-english/ Rose Bruford College - rose bruford colege Theatre Royal Stratford East - https://www.stratfordeast.com Sherrie Eugene-Hart - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherrie_Eugene-Hart Talawa - http://www.talawa.com The Kiln (formerly The Tricycle when Alison worked there) - https://kilntheatre.com Neil Fox-Roberts - https://martinfoxroberts.com/deaf-actors-and-creatives Shape Arts - https://www.shapearts.org.uk Jenny Sealy - https://graeae.org/about/who-we-are/ ‘Vision On’ with Pat Keysell - https://televisionheaven.co.uk/reviews/vision-on Baz Productions, producing company now closed - http://www.bazproductions.co.uk/#closing-statement The Bunker, venue in London now closed - http://www.bunkertheatre.com “SENCO TA” = Special Education Needs Teaching Assistant - https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/special-educational-needs-(sen)-teaching-assistant Go Ape ;-) - https://goape.co.uk Creative Captioning - https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/stephen-lloyd-fringe-theatremakers-who-care-about-being-inclusive-should-turn-to-diy ‘Park Bench Theatre’ - https://parkbenchtheatre.com ‘The Difference Engine’ - https://differenceengineaccess.wordpress.com Tech Theatre BSL - https://techtheatrebsl.wordpress.com David Ellington - https://www.extraordinarybodies.org.uk/team/david-ellington/ Definitely Theatre - https://www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk Stage Site - https://www.stagesight.org/about/ Prema Mehta, Founder of Stage Site - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoKl-gTTRNU&feature=emb_logo ‘Act for Change’ - https://www.act-for-change.com Danny lee Wynter - https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/danny-lee-wynter BA Theatre and Social Change - https://www.bruford.ac.uk/courses/theatre-and-social-change-ba-hons/

4th March 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK​ Sophie Stone of The DH Ensemble talks to David Ellington. Interpreted by: Anna Kitson and Kyra Pollitt. David Ellington is profoundly deaf and a British Sign language (BSL) user. David discovered his talent for acting in 1997 when he performed as part of the Deaf Festival at the Swan Theatre. Consequently he landed a presenting job with BBC Education, which helped him to pursue his career in television, film and theatre. Since then, David has enjoyed being involved in numerous acting and experimental film-making projects. He has been part of multiple productions with Graeae, he won Best Actor for DEF in the Deaf Oscars, and he was also part of the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. In the summer of 2016, David landed a ground breaking in-vision signer role on TV trailer ‘We’re The Superhuman – the Road to Rio’ and on a Channel 4 Paralympic TV commercial. David loves to pursue a challenge and this is how he discovered his love for aerial work. Despite his deafness he is compelled by the demands and complexities of aerial work, and has grown to love the art form. David recognises the need to act as a role model in order to encourage young Deaf people to get involved in the creative industries. Previous episodes in the #TheGreenRoom_UK Episode 1: Alim Jayda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKSjsWieC4w&t=495s Episode 2: Kelsie Acton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iLuJhL-h6k Episode 3: Polly Jerrold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKT2GNY3BZs Links to items mentioned in the conversation: Sadlers Wells - where Sophie and David first met: https://www.sadlerswells.com ‘See Hear’ on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m9cb ‘Bugsy Malone’ - the film that inspired David: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074256/ Elmfield School for the Deaf: https://www.elmfield.bristol.sch.uk/default.asp Graeae: https://graeae.org Jenny Sealey: https://graeae.org/about/who-we-are/ ‘The Plank’ for beginners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASdvN_XEl_c Sway Poles at the London 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diBWRtSDMDs ‘Weighting’ by Extraordinary Bodies: https://vimeo.com/179059004 ‘Bent’ by Martin Sharman with Graeae: https://graeae.org/our-work/bent/ Centred (community organisation working with LGBTQ people): http://www.centred.org.uk Ad Infinitum production of David’s ‘Liberty’: https://ad-infinitum.org/liberty HOME in Manchester: https://homemcr.org Richard Carter: https://www.facebook.com/bslpoetry/ The Heiku form: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-haiku-poems.html Circus OZ: https://www.circusoz.com

25th February 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK Clare-Louise English of Hot Coals Productions talks to Polly Jerrold Interpreted by: Anna Kitson and Tracey Tyer Polly is a freelance casting director working primarily in theatre and occasionally in film. Before setting up her own company in 2013, she worked at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester for 5 years as the casting associate. She has always worked on a variety of projects (musical theatre, classics, new writing, devised pieces etc) and her work has a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. She has worked throughout the UK with many companies including Sheffield Crucible theatre, Regent's Park Open Air theatre, ETT (English Touring Theatre), Royal & Derngate, Bristol Old Vic, Shakespeare's Globe, York Theatre Royal and Birmingham REP. Polly also cast the first three Ramps on the Moon productions which focused on better representation of Deaf and disabled performers. She is currently working on projects with Nottingham Playhouse; the Royal & Derngate and the Children's touring partnership; as well as the transfer of Life of Pi into the Wyndham's theatre in the west end, having cast the original production for Sheffield Theatres. Episode 1: Alim Jayda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKSjsWieC4w&t=491s Episode 2: Kelsie Acton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iLuJhL-h6k Episode 4: David Ellington - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEF1_mzqlRk&t=148s

18th February 2021 at 7.30pm in #TheGreenRoom_UK  Erin Hutching talks to neurodivergent dancer, choreographer, researcher and access consultant Kelsie Acton. Kelsie Acton is from Ontario, Canada - now living in London. She is currently the Inclusive Practice Manager at Battersea Arts Centre, the world's first Relaxed Venue. Her PhD research focused on the accessibility of timing in disability dance rehearsals and she recently published a report for the Edmonton Performing Arts Accessibility Ad Hoc Group mapping the access needs of Edmontonian (Canada) audiences. As an access consultant she has worked with the Edmonton International Fringe Festival (Canada), the Citadel Theatre (Canada), Canada Dance Assembly, Caisson and Friends (UK), Scarborough Museum Trust (UK) and Freelancers Make Theatre Work (UK). Her choreography has been presented by CRIPSiE, Good Women Dance Collective and Nextfest in Canada and she attended the inaugural UCLA Dancing Disability Lab. She is a member of the Critical Design Lab (www.mapping-access.com). Interpreted by: Anna Kitson and Natasha Trantom Episode 1: Alim Jayda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKSjsWieC4w&t=490s

11th February 2021 at 7.30pm available for catch up along with audio recordings of all 'The Green Room' interviews at: https://www.strivecollective.org/the-green-room Guest: Alim Jayda Host: Stephen Collins (DH Ensemble) Interpreters: Susan Booth and Beverly Wilson Music: Road Trips by Ofshane Alim Jayda is a hard of hearing, Mixed Indian-English, LGBT, Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), actor, presenter and sign language interpreter who is a passionate advocate for Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts. With more than ten years industry experience, he’s used his extensive contacts to campaign to get BSL levels added onto the Spotlight portal and recently pulled together, created and launched the 'Guide to Good Practice with BSL in the Arts' with Equity, Deafinitely Theatre and various Deaf friends and creatives. (www.equity.org.uk/bslguide). His lifetime ambition is to be on Strictly Come Dancing! Some credits include Eastenders (BBC), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Universal), Kismet Diner (Ridley Scott Films), The Boy in the Dress (The Royal Shakespeare Company), A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Globe Theatre and Deafinitely Theatre), Tommy (Ramps on the Moon) and various commercials including Apple, Smirnoff and Pizza Hut. You can leave your comments below and carry on the conversation at: Twitter: @STRIVEcollectiv Hashtag: #thegreenroom_uk Some links on items that cropped up in the chat below: Spotlight's 'Contacts' book, "the industry contact Bible!': https://www.spotlight.com/contacts Italia Conti, Alim's drama school: https://www.italiaconti.com Spotlight, casting website: https://www.spotlight.com 'The Boy in the Dress' by David Walliams at the RSC: https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-boy-in-the-dress-musical/ 'Magic Hands', BBC programme for Deaf children: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b0756gmh/magic-hands Deafinitely Theatre's 'Midsummer Night's Dream' at the RSC: https://www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk/event/a-midsummer-nights-dream 'Eastenders' (fan club site!): http://www.albertsquarefanclub.com 'Mama Mia: Here We Go Again!': https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6911608/ Equity's 'Guide to Good Practice with BSL in the Arts': https://www.equity.org.uk/media/4342/bsl-guide-v2_proof1.pdf 'The Stand', a US series that cast a hearing actor in a Deaf role: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55361273 Stephen's tweet about 'The Stand' controversy: https://twitter.com/BeingStephenC/status/1340311990867255297?s=20 The 'Riz Test' on Muslim representation in the arts: https://www.riztest.com Alim's article in 'The Stage' on working with the Deaf community: https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/alim-jayda-theatres-must-consider-the-deaf-community-before-using-sign-language Sophie Holland, Casting Director: https://twitter.com/SophHollandCast?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Faye Timby, Casting Director: https://www.thecdg.co.uk/members/fayetimby/