Super Power Panto Roundup!

 

 

Following the pandemic, we created in collaboration with Simply Smiley, a unique new family show that went from conception to final performance in one year which is a record for us! This included fund raising in record time, creation of a new script co-written by sighted and visually impaired writers from Extant and Simply Smiley. Casting and crewing from a combination of a visually impaired and sighted team, which included giving a new young Chinese visually impaired actor her first professional role, and VI sound designer   his first job on a full production. We also gave a stage manager recently out of RADA training, his first touring job and created a placement in rehearsals for a disabled stage manager trainee from Rada, as well as shadowing opportunities for Extant Pathways   graduates. In limited time we managed to book a tour which took in 5 English regions, playing at   6 arts venues and also offered free shows to 4 main stream and visually impaired schools. We sold out at some shows including at Northern Stage, (our first-time touring to the North East), Brixton House in London and Komedia Brighton. We played to 700 main stream children and over 200 visually impaired children and young people, as well as adults. We were featured on ITV West Midlands news, achieved 4-star Reviews in ‘Review Gate’ and Disability Arts Online. Some feedback was:

 

“wonderful production and superb performance”
Disability Arts Online

 

“I smiled the entire time from start to finish”
BBC Radio 4 In Touch

 

“much enjoyed by sighted and non-sighted audiences alike”
Reviews Gate

 

“A fabulous experience for our kids! “Dave” was especially made up with being part of the show. Not only have you provided an inclusive theatre experience, but you’ve widened their hopes and aspirations with new found knowledge that they could be actors if they wanted to be.”
@frannybop82 on Twitter

 

Read here a review by a 9-year-old visually impaired child who attended a performance of Super Power Panto at Courtyard Theatre Hereford:

https://www.ncw.co.uk/blog/2023/03/09/super-power-panto/

 

For more on the tour including fabulous images and an edited highlight video from the show visit:

https://extant.org.uk/productions/super-power-panto/