News & Opportunities

A celebratory group shot of visually impaired drag artists, all dressed in a variety of colourful and outlandish costumes. Some people pose while others grin and have their hands in the air.

Quiplash – Unsightly Drag

Posted on: 15 Jun 2019

Quiplash – Unsightly Drag 2019-2020     A cabaret with a difference, Unsightly Drag was presented by collaborating partners Extant, the UK’s leading visually impaired theatre company, and Quiplash, a queer crip (quip) led creative company supporting and taking up space for quip artists and audiences. Blind and visually impaired people from across the LGBTQIA […]

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A close up of a white woman with electric blue lightning makeup on her right eye and smoky blue eyeshadow on the other. She is wearing a purple coat with fur collar and grasping a microphone.

Tinted by Amy Bethan Evans

Posted on: 22 Jan 2018

Tinted is a revolutionary disabled response to the #metoo hashtag. Staged as accessibly as possible and written by disabled playwright Amy Bethan Evans (Libby’s Eyes, BBC Access Room, Kudos Fellowship shortlist and producer of Access Platform) Tinted is the debut full-length monologue from company Scripped Up, championing D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent writers. Tinted started as a […]

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A white man with tied back ginger hair sits on a chair leaning towards a black woman who is reaching out her arm and touching his face. Behind them is a white man with short dark hair who is making noises with a keyboard, and metal cups. To the left of the image stand two white women, the one with dark hair is whispering in the ear of the one with light blonde hair.

The Man Who Saw Backwards by Esther Eliot

Posted on: 1 Jan 2018

The Man Who Saw Backwards In 2018 Extant supported visually impaired actor Esther Elliott with her first-time writing project, by providing a week of research and development time in a venue with a professional, visually impaired cast, and directing consultation by Maria Oshodi. Esther’s take on Shakespeare’s King Lear relocated much of the action to […]

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Tom Skelton looking over dark glasses dressed in a beige trench and black trilby

Edinburgh Fringe Previews – Douglas Walker and Tom Skelton

Posted on: 10 Jul 2017

Visually impaired comedians Tom Skelton and Douglas Walker preview their shows Blind Eye Spy and Of Christmas Past ahead of the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe

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Black and white photo of participants on stage at mac Birmingham for the final sharing

Awards for All 2017

Posted on: 29 Jun 2017

The West Midlands Awards for All project culminated at the end of May in a fantastic performance, Getting On With Life by Connect and Co at mac Birmingham. 

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A close up shot of two white men standing facing each other. One wears a long silver tinsel wig and the other looks at him, with a confused expression.

Catching the Ghost by Chris Campion

Posted on: 30 Dec 2016

Catching the Ghost is back! This play is being performed at Nozstock Festival on 24th July 2022, with Chris and Steve returning to the roles. Information available here: https://nozstock.com/artists/extant-present-catching-the-ghost/

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A group of older women sit around a table in the foyer at Stratford Arts Centre talking to a younger access worker.

Spirit of Resistance

Posted on: 19 Jul 2016

An intergenerational project inspired by Extant's 2005 production of Resistance.

You can now watch the new legacy film (below) with behind-the-scenes footage from both the 2005 production and last year's commemorative project.

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A member of the group sits in the rehearsal space with the director as he casts his hands out wide with his glasses in one hand.

Unexpected: Youth Theatre 2016

Posted on: 17 May 2016

'Unexpected' was a four-month long project which culminated in a public performance exploring personal stories of sight loss.

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Group photo of participants in the project

Show Real Miracles

Posted on: 2 Apr 2015

Read about the project funded by Greater London Fund for the Blind in early 2015 that sparked this performers' gallery of show reels.

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An older white man and middle eastern woman are in ballroom dance hold

‘I dance’

Posted on: 4 Jun 2014

A series of accessible dance workshops for visually impaired people funded by the Greater London Fund for the Blind.

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Writer Louise Jenkins leans over to talk to a participant who is wearing headphones

Radio Play

Posted on: 23 Oct 2013

 A radio drama and script-writing project for visually impaired young adults aged from 18 to 30, which ran from June to September 2013.

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Forum 4 Us group in a line

Forum 4Us

Posted on: 17 May 2012

A forum theatre project for visually impaired young adults aged 15-30, ran in April and May 2012.

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