rhianne, Author at EXTANT

The background features a blurred silhouette of a building with distinct spires, identified as ZOO Southside. Orange and black text highlights key information about the event: ‘EXTANT X ZOO - EXTANT & VICS: ACCESS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AUDIENCES DROP-IN SESSION. FRIDAY 2ND AUGUST, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM, ZOO SOUTHSIDE CABARET BAR.’

Edinburgh Fringe event

Posted on: 9 Aug 2024

Edinburgh Fringe in crisis… It started with a Tweet (or whatever the X equivalent is now called!) “Of the 3,300 shows at Edinburgh Fringe Festival: 10 have audio description options (0.3%)” When I read this, I had to check out the facts for myself. As of today, the situation has improved very, very slightly: the […]

A Trainee Artistic Director’s journey

Posted on: 7 Aug 2024

Ben Wilson reflects on his Extant journey Why should visually impaired artists apply to be Extant’s Trainee Artistic Director? This job is a unique opportunity. Normally, artistic leaders are thrown in at the deep end with no opportunity to develop their skills. This is a tool which exists where it’s slightly more than just […]

A group of participants in a drama workshop stand frozen in the brightly lit space.

No Dramas at The Courtyard, Hereford

Posted on: 2 Aug 2024

No Dramas Free drama workshops for visually impaired adults, delivered by Extant. Any and all levels of experience are welcome. No Dramas sessions are led by visually impaired facilitators and are full of accessible drama exercises and fun games; they’re a great opportunity to build your confidence, develop new social connections and have a brilliant time. […]

A white woman with long blonde hair lies across a black aerial hoop in front of a backdrop of red haize. She is wearing a silver sparkly leotard with tassels around her hips. She is slim with strong arms; one on her hip, and one bent over her head. She looks elegant and is smiling.

Extant Connect

Posted on: 24 Jul 2024

Karina Jones at Extant Connect Extant Connect is Extant’s regular online session for blind and visually impaired (VI) people to network, talk, learn, and share ideas, taking place on the last Monday evening of every month. We vary between hosting guest speakers, workshops – and sometimes just having an open session to chat about whatever […]

An Edinburgh Fringe Festival poster with a pink palette background. White text is written at the top, which reads 'The Edinburgh Festival' 'Fringe' and '02-26 August 2024. Ed fringe.com.' An explosion of over 28 theatrical icons are emerging out of a wooden box. At the bottom, text which reads 'Unleash your Fringe' and a wooden sign, which reads 'Free'.

Open House Session Fringe 2024

Posted on: 17 Jul 2024

Extant and VICS Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Event Extant and VICS (Visually Impaired Creators Scotland) are hosting an open house drop-in session on access for visually impaired audiences, supported by ZOO Venues. On Friday 2nd August, Extant & VICS will host an open house drop-in session at ZOO Southside,117 Nicolson Street, in the Cabaret Bar, from […]

Eight No Dramas attendees sit in chairs in a circle, talking and smiling in the basement of The Camden People’s Theatre. They are a diverse group of people, wearing casual clothing. There is one man and seven women with one attendee in a wheelchair. A guide dog lies on the floor in the middle of the circle. The room is bare and brightly lit with a grey floor and white walls.

No Dramas visually impaired facilitator training opportunity!

Posted on: 25 Jun 2024

No Dramas Paid Training Opportunity! We are looking to increase and develop our pool of visually impaired (VI) No Dramas facilitators through a unique PAID training opportunity. No Dramas returns with a refreshed look for 2024. This opportunity applies to facilitators inside and outside of London. No Dramas will be back in London and expanding to […]

A Letter to Judi Dench

Posted on: 20 Jun 2024

Dear Dame Judi Dench, You don’t know me. I am writing this letter/blog post because I read in the press recently that you are quitting acting because of your sight. This upset me for several reasons. Firstly, you are actual Judi Dench. You are amazing. I recently watched Philomena again, for about the 27th time, […]

Three Actors stand in a line towards the front of the stage. They wear blackbird costumes with feather wings and hats with orange beaks. To their right in the centre of the stage stands Jasmin, she wears a yellow dress with long white sleeves and white socks with a blue thunderbolt across her chest and holds her cane pointing ahead of them.

Trustee Recruitment

Posted on: 19 Jun 2024

Trustee Recruitment About Extant We are the UK’s leading professional performing arts company that explores visual impairment to create unique and innovative artistic experiences, placing visually impaired (VI) people at the centre of all we do: from the productions we create, to the artists we support, to the audiences we perform to and the participants we work […]

A group of people from a range of backgrounds stand around a table with cooking utensils and biscuit dough. They are engaging with the props as part of the Touch Tour for ‘Pepper and Honey’ at The Courtyard, Hereford.

Extant are recruiting regional visually impaired facilitators and access workers!

Posted on: 18 Jun 2024

Call out for Visually Impaired Facilitators and Access Workers! Extant are looking for freelance visually impaired facilitators and access workers to work on our Paul Hamlyn funded Enhance programme 2024-26. We are particularly interested in freelancers based in these regions: North East / North West / Midlands / Hereford / Derby / London. Enhance Facilitator skill […]

Ben Wilson, a white man, with short blonde hair and a beard. He wears a floral shirt and is talking mid-sentence.

Identical Twins

Posted on: 5 Jun 2024

Trainee Artistic Director R&D Project on Toxic Masculinity During my time as Trainee Artistic Director (TAD) at Extant there has always been a pot of money for me to develop an artistic project of my own. This was one of the most attractive elements of the original job advertisement when I applied, so I’ve been […]

Ellen is a white woman, in her mid-twenties, with long brown hair. She is wearing a navy-blue jumper and has her arms crossed, with a big smile on her face.

The importance of making time for learning

Posted on: 3 Jun 2024

The importance of making time for learning One of the reasons why I joined Extant was to expand my knowledge and grow my practice in theatre and accessibility, and since I joined 8 months ago as Administrator and Project Coordinator, I have certainly been doing that! The staff team at Extant each have […]

Enhance Makes A Splash!

Posted on: 3 Jun 2024

Enhance Makes A Splash! It has been a lively time for Enhance at Extant. Our first two Enhanced shows for our Paul Hamlyn Foundation funded roll-out – Pepper and Honey by Not Now Collective at The Courtyard, Hereford and English Kings Killing Foreigners by RealFake Theatre company at Camden People’s Theatre, London – both […]