We’ve collated a list of theatre companies and organisations that are run by and for disabled people across the UK. We hope you find this useful, we hope you find it helpful and if you think we’ve missed any, please drop us a message and we’ll add it.

THEATRE COMPANIES

About Face Theatre Company

https://www.aboutfacetheatre.co.uk/

About Face is Herefordshire’s leading theatre company for people with learning disabilities. They run workshops and schools projects, as well as touring their plays both regionally and nationally.

Access Theatre

http://www.accesstheatre.org/

Based in Cornwall, Access Theatre in an inclusive theatre and dance company made up of disabled and special needs people.

Access All Areas Theatre

http://www.accessallareastheatre.org/

Access All Areas make award-winning, disruptive performance by learning disabled and autistic artists. In addition to their performance company their Take Part programme which works intensively with learning disabled adults in East London and beyond, offer a Performance Making Diploma, in collaboration with the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, a ground-breaking training programme for emerging learning disabled theatre makers, and offer consultancy.

All Stars Theatre Company

http://www.allstarstheatrecompany.co.uk/

All Stars is a volunteer-run theatre company making shows performed by people with learning disabilities. They also run workshops.

Angel Shed

https://www.angelshedtheatre.org.uk/

Angel Shed are an inclusive Islington-based youth and children’s theatre company, creating a space for children and young people of all abilities and backgrounds to access the transformative power of participation in the performing arts.

Baked Bean Company

http://bakedbeancompany.com/

The Baked Bean Company uses drama, dance, art and music to help people with learning disabilities gain confidence and get more from their lives. They are based in south London.

Bamboozle Theatre Company

https://bamboozletheatre.co.uk/

Bamboozle Theatre create interactive multi-sensory theatre shows and experiences for, and with, learning disabled children, young people and their families. They share the ground-breaking Bamboozle Approach methodology in schools and theatres nationally and internationally.  They are based in Leicester.

Blue Teapot

http://blueteapot.ie/

Blue Teapot is a multi-award winning Theatre Company, Performing Arts School and Outreach programme for people with intellectual disabilities at the forefront of arts & disability in Ireland.

Birds of Paradise

https://www.boptheatre.co.uk/

Birds of Paradise Theatre are a Scottish-based theatre company founded in 1993, that produces world-class productions and projects that place disabled artists centre stage and works to develop future generations of disabled artists. Birds of Paradise Theatre’s artistic vision is of a culture where disabled artists are recognised for the excellence of their work, celebrated for the stories that they bring to the stage and are a vital part of 
the artistic landscape of Scotland.

Candoco

https://candoco.co.uk/

Candoco are a world-leading professional dance company continually expanding perceptions of what dance can be, working with both disabled and non-disabled dancers.

CRIPtic Arts

https://cripticarts.org/

CRIPtic Arts runs various projects to support disabled artists, including the Barbican CRIPtic showcase, artist mentoring and development programmes, workshops and mentoring, and producing disabled-led work.

Cutting Edge Theatre Company

cuttingedgetheatre.co.uk

Across Scotland and beyond, at the heart of their work is a desire to make a positive change in society, to leave a creative legacy and to enable those we connect with to access, create and participate in the arts and creative industries.  

Dark Horse Theatre

https://www.darkhorsetheatre.co.uk/

Dark Horse theatre company premiere original work performed by both learning disabled and non-learning disabled actors. Their work tours nationally, and they are also a leading leading vocational trainer of actors with learning disabilities. They are based at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield.

deafinitely theatre

https://www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk/

deafinitely theatre is the first deaf launched and deaf led professional theatre company in the uk producing quality bilingual theatre in british sign language and spoken english. They are based in London and their productions have been staged at major theatres and also toured nationally.

DIY Theatre

https://www.diytheatre.org.uk/

DIY is an established Learning Disability Theatre Company based in Salford. They work with performers with learning disabilities to create original performances which tour to schools, colleges and theatres, and also run educational workshops and drama projects both in schools and for learning disabled adults. DIY’s vision is for a world where performers and arts leaders with learning disabilities are valued as part of the rich diversity of our cultural sector and our society.

Embracing Arts

https://www.embracingarts.org.uk/our-work

Their mission is to improve the quality of life for children with complex care or educational needs and life limiting conditions by providing high quality interactive Christmas shows, Inclusive Parties and Schools Workshops across the UK.

EXTANT

https://extant.org.uk/

Extant is the UK’s leading professional performing arts company of visually impaired artists and theatre practitioners, producing touring productions and delivering training regionally and internationally.

Face Front Theatre

https://www.facefront.org/

Face Front are based in Edmonton in North London and has been creating inclusive theatre since 1999. They create accessible theatre for schools and the public, with disabled and non-disabled performers. Our shows and activities transform the lives of disadvantaged people, improving emotional well-being and addressing social injustice. They work across London and tour their shows nationally. They provide training, run schools projects, and run regular performing arts groups for disabled and non-disabled people to participate in theatre.

fingersmiths

https://www.fingersmiths.org.uk/

fingersmiths creates theatre with a multi-layered approach to language and physical expression, presenting modern plays performed by Deaf and hearing actors using British Sign Language and spoken English to create accessible theatre. fingersmiths is  an Associate Company at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.

formidAbility

https://www.formidability.org/

The world’s first opera company putting accessibility at the foundation of the creative process.

Freewheelers Theatre Company

https://freewheelerstheatre.co.uk/disability-arts/

Freewheelers are an inclusive arts company based in Surrey who make theatre, dance, film, music and visual art that challenges perceptions and defies expectations, being a force for change and artistic excellence in the world of Disability Arts.

Fuse Theatre

https://www.facebook.com/FUSETheatreNY/

Fuse Theatre is a North Yorkshire-based inclusive youth disability theatre group made up of adults and children with special educational needs and varied disabilities. Their work tours around North Yorkshire.

Graeae

https://graeae.org/

Graeae are one of the biggest and most established disabled theatre companies in the UK, making theatre with disabled artists across the UK.

Head2Head Sensory Theatre

https://www.h2hsensorytheatre.com/

Head2Head Theatre is a London-based theatre company dedicated to the special needs community, offering multi-sensory shows, pantomimes, immersive learning experiences (curriculum-based or story-based) and mask workshops. They work throughout London and SE England.

Heart ‘n’ Soul

https://www.heartnsoul.co.uk/

Heart ‘n’ Soul are a music theatre group and a leading arts organisation for people with learning disabilities. They run free creative sessions for people aged 10-25, and run projects that put people with learning disabilities or autism at the heart of their work. They are based at the Albany Theatre in SE London.

HERA

https://www.wearehera.co.uk/

Hera celebrates and shares music and stories you haven’t heard before, right across the UK. With Hera, women and gender minoritised artists work together to bring performances, training and workshops to all.

Hijinx Theatre

https://www.hijinx.org.uk/

Based at the Millennum Centre in Cardiff, Hijinx is a professional theatre company working to pioneer, produce and promote opportunities for actors with learning disabilities and/or autism to create outstanding productions.

Hot Coals Theatre

https://www.hotcoalsproductions.co.uk/

Hot Coals is an award winning theatre and film company that create highly visual inclusive work which is accessible to both hearing and d/Deaf audiences in a shared experience.

Lawnmowers Theatre Company

https://www.facebook.com/LawnmowersITC

Lawnmowers Theatre Company are a Gateshead-based theatre company run by people with learning disabilities for people with learning disabilities.

Level

https//www.levelcentre.com

An Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation challenging perceptions and traditional notions of art, culture and societal divisions. Produce and promote art that is powerful and of relevance to all of society – art that is not afraid to be different.

Liberdade

https://www.liberdade.co.uk/

Liberdade are based in Newcastle and was founded to create the opportunity for a group of people with learning disabilities to establish and run their own physical theatre company. They make theatre, dance and film.

Little but Fierce Theatre

https://www.lbftheatre.com/

Little but Fierce is a London-based feminist theatre-collective led by disabled artists, who create female-led inclusive work for theatre, digital performance, and film.

Lung Ha Theatre Company

http://lungha.com/

Scotland and International-based company for people with learning disabilities.

Mind the Gap

https://www.mind-the-gap.org.uk/

Mind the Gap is England’s leading learning disability performance and live arts company, delivering a wide-ranging programme of work in performance and live art; talent development; and sector leadership. They are based in Bradford.

Misfits Theatre

https://misfitstheatre.com/

Misfits Theatre are a theatre and social group based in Bristol, led by people with learning difficulties, that brings creativity and inspiration to people with learning difficulties. They also provide training to both the private businesses and the public sector.

Oily Cart

https://oilycart.org.uk/

Oily Cart creates interactive, sensory shows that tour across the UK and internationally, and all their work is made for and with children and young people. Their work is  make our work accessible to those with the most complex needs – with profound and multiple disabilities, with an autistic spectrum condition, and most recently deafblind and multi-sensory impaired audiences. They are based in SW London but tour nationally.

Prism Arts

https://www.prismarts.org.uk/

Prism Arts is a Cumbrian-based arts company that works in both theatre and visual arts, for and with people with additional learning needs.

Ramps on the Moon

https://www.rampsonthemoon.co.uk/

Ramps on the Moon brings together a collaborative network of six theatres: Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nottingham Playhouse, Leeds Playhouse, Sheffield Theatres plus strategic partner Graeae Theatre. Their Agents for Change programme imbeds

Sherman Theatre Deaf Club

https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/deaf-theatre-club/

Based in Cardiff, Award-winning Deaf Theatre Club offers discounted tickets and BSL interpreted performances, plus more for 5 members of the D/deaf community.

The Solar Bear

https://solarbear.org.uk

A theatre company that does things differently. Inclusion and collaboration are at the heart of their mission. They work with deaf and hearing actors, theatre makers, artists and young people.

Taking Flight Theatre Company

https://www.takingflighttheatre.org.uk/

Taking Flight are a Welsh company producing bold, unusual theatre productions with D/deaf, disabled and non-disabled performers. They run inclusive professional training courses & mentoring schemes for D/deaf or disabled artists looking for the next step into a career in theatre, and they run Wales’ first and only Youth Theatre for D/deaf and Hard of Hearing young people.

Vital Xposure

https://vitalxposure.co.uk/

Vital Xposure is a disabled-led touring theatre company that promotes hidden voices with extraordinary stories to tell. They are based in London.

ORGANISATIONS

Citz Deaf Theatre Club

https://www.citz.co.uk/about/citizens-theatre/deaf-theatre-club

The Citz in Glasgow run a deaf theatre club.

DaDa

https://www.dadafest.co.uk/

Dada (Disability and Deaf Arts) seeks to inspire, develop and celebrate talent in disability and deaf arts. DaDaFest produce opportunities for disabled and d/Deaf people to perform and access the arts, including training and a festival programme.

Disability Arts Cymru

https://disabilityarts.cymru/

Disability arts organisation for Wales

Disability Arts Online

https://disabilityarts.online

Website with a huge range of resources covering various aspects of disability arts

Shape Arts

https://www.shapearts.org.uk/

Shape Arts is a disability-led arts organisation which works to improve access to culture for disabled people by providing opportunities for disabled artists, training cultural institutions to be more open to disabled people, and through running participatory arts and development programmes.

Unlimited

https://weareunlimited.org.uk/

Unlimited is an arts commissioning programme that aims to embed work by disabled artists within the UK and international cultural sectors, reach new audiences and shift perceptions of disabled people.

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

Access guide to venues

AccessAble

https://www.accessable.co.uk/

Information about the government scheme

Access to Work

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

A blog about disability life.

BBC Ouch!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ouch

Blog about deaf culture and deaf life.

The Limping Chicken

http://limpingchicken.com/

Access guide to theatres.

Official London Theatre

https://officiallondontheatre.com/access/