London Archives

A grid of 12 tiny coloured ink drawings of Directors and tutors on Zoom, landscape format. This composite set of drawings is set out in a gallery style to mimic the Zoom screen. There are also two blank tiles, one showing the person icon for someone who has their video turned off

Pathways Directors Showcase – Zoom Watch Party

Posted on: 8 Feb 2022

Extant is delighted to invite you to the online Zoom showing of the Pathways Directors Showcase. This online event is a filmed screening of the live Pathways Directors showcase which originally took place on 28 January 2022 at the Cockpit. The screening is for anyone who missed the in-person showcase, those who’d like to view the works again, or […]

A purple flower growing out of a white hospital bed, a splatter of red blood on its sheets. The background of the image is all black.

States of Mind by Christopher Hunter

Posted on: 24 Sep 2021

Visually impaired Shakespearean director Christopher Hunter penetrated the dark heart of Shakespeare’s sensationally successful poem Venus and Adonis to create States of Mind, produced by Extant.

A Black woman motions with her arms in a fighter pose towards the young white man holding his cane ready for action

Movie Theatre: Daredevil

Posted on: 29 Jun 2021

We have been working with the 2003 Marvel film Daredevil in Movie Theatre, where we research playing with accessible film by taking the live audio described soundtrack and used it to direct blind actors to create a new live dramatic interpretation of the film.

A black woman conversing to a group of seven others who are laughing at what she is saying.

Eye Say, Eye Say, Eye Say!

Posted on: 11 Sep 2020

I Say, what do you get when over a dozen visually impaired comedians congregate for some covert comedy?

Yes it’s Eye Say, Eye Say, Eye Say! At this year’s Bloomsbury Festival!

Join us on 17th October at 6 pm for a night of eye-watering comedy from our awesome range of visually impaired comedians who will actually be performing together and live-streamed to you from a top-secret location and offering 20/20 insights on their diverse experiences living in the capital!

A close up of a middle aged white man's face. His expression is haggard and his fingers touch his left cheek right below his eye.

Rathband

Posted on: 21 Jul 2020

PC David Rathband was shot and blinded in Durham by escaped prisoner Raoul Moat in July 2010 – A decade on, in July 2020, Extant launched an interactive Zoom cast of ‘Rathband’ by writer Christopher Hogg, hosted by visually impaired actor, Robin Paley Yorke.

The participating writers sit in a row on stage, with the backs of the front row of the audience in the foreground. A white woman on the right is facing the audience, receiving questions for a Q&A

The Write Stage

Posted on: 20 Apr 2020

In October 2017, Extant paired seven writers with seven professional mentors for the Write Stage project. Over four months, participants worked together to develop seven individual pieces of new writing, which was presented by an integrated cast of visually impaired actors and directors in a live performance. Funded by Arts Council England and The Drapers’ […]

A group of participants in flamenco class standing in a large circle, their arms outstretched and curved in motion. A black and white image.

Dance Stage

Posted on: 26 Oct 2019

Dance Stage was a program of dance classes open to all visually impaired adults at any level of experience or ability.

Three woman standing in a circle facing one another. The woman in the centre has her hands drawn to her head, while the woman on the left takes a step towards her.

No Dramas!

Posted on: 11 Sep 2019

Are you visually impaired and would you like to come along to drama sessions to have some fun, learn new skills and meet new people?

Then No Dramas! is just for you!

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.

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.

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.

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.