London - EXTANT

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

Wednesday 2 March, 4-6.30pm

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.

Saturday 16 October 2021, 8.30pm

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

June 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.

17 October 2020 live streamed at 6pm

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.

14 July 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

October 2017 - February 2018

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

January - June 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.

January - April 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

Early 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

2014

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

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

June - September 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.

April & May 2012

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

July 2011

Extant held a beginners guide to magic on Saturday 2 July 2011 at the Oval House Theatre.

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

Autumn 2010

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

The words of a script can be read on a laptop screen over someone's shoulder in the workshop

Autumn 2010

In the autumn of 2010 and winter of 2011 Extant ran a 10 week performance writing programme called ‘Writing Stage’, for visually impaired writers at any level of experience.

Projects:

No Dramas!

Past:

Pathways Directors Showcase – Zoom Watch Party

States of Mind by Christopher Hunter

Movie Theatre: Daredevil

Eye Say, Eye Say, Eye Say!

Rathband

The Write Stage

Spirit of Resistance

Unexpected: Youth Theatre 2016

Show Real Miracles

‘I dance’

Radio Play

Forum 4Us

Magic Workshop

Dance Stage

Writing Stage