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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We're so excited to announce our brand-new folk-punk musical about love, belonging and what happens when the state decides who belongs. Touring February – March 2027. A Graeae & Derby Theatre co-pro, the show is packed with rebellion, razor-sharp humour & rousing songs. graeae.org/event/weddin...

graeae.org

Wedding Fayre - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

We’re thrilled to be part of Totally Thames 2026 Festival with Turning the Tide. A free public installation, created with Graeae's Young Company from the 17-20 September at Blackfriars Bridge. Check out the video below and find out more about the project. youtu.be/H2v4X8G0KUM?...

youtu.be

Turning The Tide @ Totally Thames festival 2026 [CC]

YouTube video by Thames Festival Trust

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Graeae is looking for an eclectic, rebellious gang to join a brand-new anarchic folk punk musical, directed by Jenny Sealey. We're seeking Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent: - Actor-musicians - Actor-singers - Actor-signers (BSL). Find out more: graeae.org/job/casting-...

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

"It is vital that we not be removed from the scene. It is even more vital that you do not see us as a risk because of all this. We need you to continue to employ us and take on ATW alongside your Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent employees." Jenny Sealey www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...

artsprofessional.co.uk

The sector needs Access to Work - Arts Professional

Having had her Access to Work allowance reduced and then restored Jenny Sealey, joint CEO and artistic director of Graeae, has become a lightning rod for the sector on disability allowances.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Exciting opportunity to join our team! We're looking for an Artist Development Administrator to support the delivery of Graeae’s national artist development programme over the next 18 months! Deadline: Monday 15 June. More details below. graeae.org/recruitment/

graeae.org

Recruitment - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Crips with Chips is back! We've teamed up with Mercury Theatre to bring you a night of short plays and extracts, platforming Disabled and neurodivergent writers and their new work. Join us on Friday 31 July at Mercury Theatre. Full details of the event below. graeae.org/project/crip...

graeae.org

Crips with Chips 2026 - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

We want to share some important updates about the claims process for Access to Work. It is vital that you are aware of the processes you need to follow to be successful in your claim. More information and resources can be found on our website: graeae.org/access-to-wo...

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Our second community response to the cuts to Access to Work is now live! The writer had asked to remain anonymous, but we urge you to share this story and write to your MPs! Their experience is not the exception, it has become the rule. This must change! graeae.org/resource/com...

graeae.org

Community Response: Access to Work: A System That’s Neither Accessible Nor Working. - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

We are recruiting for new board members who are interested in making an impact on the future of Graeae. We are interested in applications from Deaf, Disabled, and neurodivergent individuals. Being a member of Graeae’s board is stimulating and rewarding. Learn more below! graeae.org/job/board-me...

graeae.org

Board Member - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

We are endlessly grateful to every one of you who reached out when Jenny’s Access to Work was cut earlier this year. We know many of you wrote to your MPs, posted on social media, & it worked. Jenny’s ATW has been reinstated. Please keep sharing your experiences with us as we continue this fight!

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

On 12 March, the Public Accounts Committee held a hearing with key managers from the DWP who work on the Access to Work Scheme. If you missed the hearing or would like to revisit the questions, we have new resources on our website. graeae.org/resource/acc...

graeae.org

Access to Work Campaign 2026 - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

We reached our target and more, raising an incredible £13,600 for our Young Company through the Big Give campaign! A huge thank you to everyone who donated and shared our campaign and a big thanks to Arts Council England for match funding.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Support our young Disabled artists by removing barriers & making accessible pathways into the creative industry; ensuring they have equal opportunities and support to thrive and become the industry leaders of tomorrow. Every donation is doubled! #ArtsforImpact donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

A yellow and blue background with a black young man wearing a white shirt with beige trousers holds open a book. Text reads Graeae Young Company. Every donation is doubled. Arts for Impact. Big Give.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

The Big Give Arts for Impact campaign starts now! From 17 - 24 March, Graeae is raising funds to support our Young Company of Disabled artists. Support us to make high-quality, inclusive training possible. Every donation doubled! donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Following the hearing, we have written an initial response with some key takeaways. You can read this response on our website. We will be providing a transcript of the hearing and alternative formats of the transcript in the coming days. graeae.org/resource/acc...

graeae.org

Access to Work Campaign 2026 - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

On Thursday 12 March, there will be a Public Accounts Committee Hearing with senior members of Access to Work and the DWP. The hearing will take place at 10am on Parliament TV. One stream will have British Sign Language interpretation, and one stream will not. More info: graeae.org/resource/acc...

graeae.org

Access to Work Campaign 2026 - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Disabled Artists of the Future! We’re excited to announce that we’re taking part in the Big Give Arts for Impact campaign from the 17 - 24 March 2026, raising vital funds for our Young Company and we need your support. Save the date! donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

donate.biggive.org

Young Company: The disabled artists of the future – Big Give

Graeae is seeking funding to support a Young Company of Deaf, Disabled and neurodivergent young people aged 16+. We will provide disabled-led, accessible and vibrant theatre making opportunities throu...

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j khan @javairya.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Solidarity with Jenny and everyone affected by the cuts to Access to Work.

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nickyrvs.bsky.social @nickyrvs.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

You shouldn't have to be a significant person in the history of disability arts in order to get ATW ... but it's pretty telling of what the DWP are up to when they slash such a notable person's ATW.

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Miranda Debenham @mdebenham1.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Telling the leader of a nationally renowned Deaf/disabled theatre company that she can only have 18 hours of BSL Interpretation per week is so.... evil. Knowingly evil. Cuts to A2W will slowly remove our strongest voices and advocates from public life.

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CN Lester 🏳️‍⚧️ @cnlester.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

The government is cutting Graea Directoe Jenny Sealey's Access to Work by 50% - not only a direct assault on her equal right to work, but what feels like a targeted attack on the capacity of a leading disabled organisation to speak truth to power and challenge and change culture. This is obscene.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Graeae has been informed that our artistic director, faces swingeing cuts to Access to Work support on the same day we close our survey asking for feedback on the scheme. Read the full story on our website with a statement from Jenny Sealey: graeae.org/resource/acc...

graeae.org

Access to Work cuts - Statement from Jenny Sealey - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences & responded to our Access to Work survey. Your voices are so valuable to our campaign for positive change to the Access to Work system. graeae.org/resource/acc...

Text reads on a cream background in red boxes, Thank you! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and responded to our Access to Work survey.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Have your say on your experience of Access to Work. To inform our response to The Public Accounts Committee Inquiry, we’ve created a short survey for our community and for those who would prefer to submit their evidence through Graeae. graeae.org/resource/acc...

graeae.org

Access to Work 2026 - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Did you know that The Public Accounts Committee & National Audit Office have launched an inquiry into the Access to Work Scheme? There is a chance to submit your experience or fill in our survey, please check out our Access to Work page on our website for more info. graeae.org/resource/acc...

Text in red boxes on a cream background read, Access to Work. The Public Accounts Committee Inquiry. Deadline Monday 23 February 2026 to submit your evidence

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

New year. New projects. New space? Graeae’s accessible award-winning spaces are available to hire! Check out the brochure on our webiste. graeae.org/who-we-are/o...

Graeae's meeting room. Long white table with chairs in the middle with green fabric seats on the right across the wall.

Graeae's kitchen with green countertops with tea and coffee facilities

Graeae's rehearsal space with round tables and chairs. Sound and lighting equipment is to the right of the room next to a piano.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

We are saddened to hear of the passing of the wonderful Julie Cleves. Julie was one of our Rhinestone Rollers, complete with her pink tasseled shirt and stetson hat.   Her artwork graces our space at Bradbury Studios. Her art and spirit will be ever present in our space and in our hearts.

A photo of Julie in a pink western shirt with white fringe. Julie is smiling at the camera, she has short, dark, curly hair, and is wearing glasses.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Lovely way to start the year and proud to see our Artistic Director Jenny Sealey and Executive Director Kevin Walsh in @thestage.co.uk 100! www.thestage.co.uk/features/the...

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

“We need more allies in our activism. 2026 needs to be all-embracing to ensure the theatrical landscape is rich with diversity of people and narratives.” Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director, Graeae shorturl.at/2oxBj

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What’s in store for 2026? Theatre leaders share their forecasts

Industry leaders on the likely challenges for the year ahead

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

And the winner of Best North East Production: Bad Lads from @livetheatre.bsky.social and @graeaetheatre.bsky.social. Easily the best all-rounder at Live this year, with a revelation about a Youth Detention Centre and innovative use of captions and signing chrisontheatre.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/c...

chrisontheatre.wordpress.com

Chris Neville-Smith’s 2025 awards

The Best Of 2025 as seen over my year.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Graeae’s Deaf, Disabled & neurodivergent writers have ended their coffee mornings this year with “12 Days of Christmas: on your radar, not your risk register.” In our rebellious spirit, this does not fit to the tune of 12 days of Christmas, but the sentiment does! graeae.org/resource/12-...

graeae.org

12 Days of Christmas: on your radar, not your risk register! - Graeae

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Today, in celebration of Disability History Month, we are highlighting the future of Disability in the arts through the young artists we have the pleasure of working with. The photos included in this post date back to the 1980s and follow us all the way up through to our current young company.

A photo of Godwin, a Young Company member performing onstage with Sharon, a BSL interpreter.

Young Company are onstage performing the anchors and the sails. Behind them is a screen with captions. Ariana is in the centre of the stage performing a monologue.

Young Company are onstage performing, there is a colourful set behind them. Marcus and Ariana are centre stage dancing.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Today for Disability History Month we’d like to honour Disability Rights Activist Judy Heumann. Judy was known as the Mother of the Disability Rights Movement and she led the charge for equal rights in the U.S., and she was largely responsible for legislative changes from the 1970s onwards.

A color photo of Judy. She is sat in her chair holding two of her books. She is wearing a bright top, glasses, and is smiling.

Dozens of disabled demonstrators gathered inside the HEW building Image Credit: AP Images

Hale Zukas, Ron Washington, and Judy Heumann respond to a question at a press conference held at the San Francisco airport before protesters leave for Washington. Lynette Taylor provides American Sign Language interpretation.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

We’ve launched a new Membership Scheme! Join us as a Member, Ambassador, or Legend starting from £5 a month and help us keep creating bold, radical and accessible theatre now and in the future. Find out more on our How to Donate page: graeae.org/support-us/h...

Beige background with a collage of production photos. Text reads Grey eye, we create radical theatre, placing access at the heart of our work. Membership schemes.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

We are kicking off Disability History Month here at Graeae! Over the next four weeks, we will be highlighting pieces of Graeae’s legacy and the legacy of those who led the Disability Rights movement.

Cream background, red lettering reads Graeae Theatre Company. There is a photo of Nabil Shaban, he is sat in his wheelchair reading the tempest. Below the image is a blue box with white text that reads: Disability History Month 2025. 20 November - 20 December

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

The Bad Lads tour has come to an end and what a journey. Huge love and thanks to the incredible cast, creatives, the Medomsley men and all the venues who made this tour happen across the country. To every audience member who shared this powerful story with us, thank you.

Five men lined up, they have their arms around one another, and they are smiling at the camera. Behind them is a wall of windows.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

It's Captioning Awareness week! And we want to say a big congrats to Stagetext who are celebrating 25 years of championing Deaf access across the UK. At Graeae all our shows are captioned. Check out the final week of our latest production, Bad Lads in Coventry & Stockton! graeae.org/event/bad-la...

White background with colourful speech bubbles in the middle. Text reads stagetext. Captioning Awareness Week 2025. Celebrating Deaf Access

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Bad Lads! We're now on the last week of the tour so there's still time to catch Bad Lads in Coventry and Stockton. 11-12 Nov Warwick Arts Centre 14-15 Nov ARC Stockton Arts Centre All shows integrate BSL, creative captions and audio description.

Cast members stand side by side behind a table. Craig signs in the middle while the other two look down. Text reads, 5 stars. It was one of the most effective incorporations of BSL I have ever seen. North West End.

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Lashing Rain Audio @lashingrainaudio.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Take a bow @graeaetheatre.bsky.social for #BadLads at @unitytheatre.bsky.social. Been a LONG time since a piece of theatre has punched me in the stomach. 3 great performances+2 chairs+1 table=phenomenal storytelling! 🙌 #shameonmedomsley #justiceformedomsleyvictims #medomsleydisgrace

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Curious Minds @curiousminds.org.uk · 07/11/2025

Our next The Hour: Spotlight will be on 27/11/25 – 12pm – 1pm and we will be hosting Graeae Theatre’s Deputy Artistic Director – Jodi Alissa Bickerton! Sign up here: thehourspotlightnov25.eventbrite.co.uk @graeaetheatre.bsky.social

A graphic with an accompanying image of a woman smiling towards the camera. Text reads:
Spotlight. Free, online. Thursday 27th November. 12pm to 1pm. A candid hour with Jodi-Alissa Bickerton, Deputy Artistic Director at Graeae Theatre Company. We'll hear about how Graeae uses theatre for social change, how their ethos informs their work, and the importance of working with communities and young people.

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Another Cinna @anothercinna.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Oh. Somehow missed this. What a magnetic man he was. RIP Nabil Shaban, great performer & founder of @graeaetheatre.bsky.social. Commiserations to all. Obit below by @tobyhadoke.bsky.social

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Playwright Mike Kenny and director Jenny Sealey talk about creating Bad Lads. They share how they transformed real stories onto stage, balancing authenticity, care and creativity to give survivors’ stories the voice they deserve. Read the full interview on Liverpool Noise. shorturl.at/74QzV

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Bad Lads: Mike Kenny And Jenny Sealey On Turning Testimony Into Theatre | Liverpool Noise

Liverpool Arts and Culture magazine

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

This video by Insightful Environments wonderfully highlights our newly refurbished building, following a major redesign & refit this year. “This building is like no other place I know, because it’s the centre of excellence for Disability arts in theatre.” Mat Fraser vimeo.com/1131334440/b....

vimeo.com

Graeae's newly refurbished building

“This building is like no other place I know, because it’s the centre of excellence for Disability arts in theatre, in Britain.” Mat Fraser This…

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

NEW TRAILER - Bad Lads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"The writing was fierce, poetic, jarring and raw" Theatre & Tonic On tour: 23 - 25 Oct Tobacco Factory Theatres 5 - 6 Nov Unity Liverpool 7 - 8 Nov Derby Theatre 11 - 12 Nov Warwick Arts Centre 14 - 15 Nov ARC Stockton Trailer: Round One Films shorturl.at/D2Igf

shorturl.at

Bad Lads Trailer

A new play written by Mike Kenny created from a story by Jimmy Coffey and the testimonies of the other Medomsley boys. Directed by Jenny Sealey. A Graeae production…

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Final day to apply! Find out full details about the role and how to apply on our website: graeae.org/job/general-...

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

New review: Bad Lads at @livetheatre.bsky.social. One of the strongest all-rounders to come out of the north east this year, with @graeaetheatre.bsky.social encompassing compelling writing, an angry statement about indifference ... and an innovative use of sign language. wp.me/p2lCom-9TE

wp.me

Bad Lads: not a one off

Graeae Theatre’s dramatisation of a almost-forgotten abuse scandal at a youth detention centre it cleverly written, cleverly staged, and a call to action against those who turn a blind eye.

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Julie Ward🇪🇺🇺🇦🌈🌍🕷️✊🌹 @julie4north.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Read my review of the latest brave production from @graeaetheatre.bsky.social focusing on the true story of boys and young men who were subject to horrific abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre during the Thatcher years. Catch it on tour across the UK.

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Graeae Theatre Company @graeaetheatre.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

We're looking for a General Manager - Maternity Cover to join our team until Oct 2026. This is a wide-ranging, thrilling job in a vibrant, creative office and is perfect for someone with a passion for theatre, a well-run system, equality & advocacy. Apply by Mon 20 Oct: graeae.org/recruitment/

Purple background. Text reads, Join our team. General Manager -Maternity Cover. Deadline 20 October. Below is an image of young people smiling and cheering on stage of our show The Festival of Rights.

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