Past Life brings creative access to the Bloomsbury Festival 2022

A fluffy diary lies open on the floor with Alice lying behind it wearing a puffa jacket and jeans. The stage is lit with dim blue light, Alice’s face in shadow.

October saw Extant’s first Associate Artist project of 2022/23, Past Life by Alice Christina-Corrigan presented at RADA Studios as part of the Bloomsbury Festival 2022.

Written and performed by Alice, a visually impaired artist and graduate of Extant’s Pathways Writers Programme, Past Life showcased creative access at the heart of the show, including animated captions, integrated audio descriptive language and integrated BSL interpretation.

There was a lively audience in attendance who gave some wonderful feedback following the show. One audience member wrote on social media: ‘@aliceccorrigan is an absolute powerhouse and her show #pastlife is INCREDIBLE.’

Another wrote: ‘FINALLY caught @aliceccorrigan’s @PPASTLIFE at RADA Studios last night as apart of @bloomsburyfest and it did not disappoint! Still gathering my thoughts – stunning work, a show I’m sure has a bright future ahead of it.’

Extant is proud to support the most innovative new work by blind and visually impaired artists through our pioneering artist development programme, generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Alice is wearing a black shirt covered in streaks of white paint, and is using a brush to daub an X across her chest in yellow paint.