Central Hosts Stage Sight’s September Forum
On Thursday 26 September, Central was pleased to host Stage Sight’s September Members’ Forum, and to welcome industry representatives to the School to share ideas and best practice around fostering a more inclusive, representative sector.
The event focused on the themes of disability and access. Through a series of group and panel discussions, attendees were asked to consider ways of encouraging disabled and d/Deaf professionals to participate in the industry and to remove barriers, thus enabling disabled and d/Deaf members of the workforce to better carry out out roles backstage and in technical theatre.
Members of the industry panel included Andrew Miller (the UK Government’s Disability Champion for Art & Culture), David Phillips (Head of Production at the New Wolsey Theatre), Ali Pottinger (Project Manager for the Technical Theatre BSL project), Michelle Rolfe (Producer for Birds of Paradise Theatre), Ben Wilson (Ramps on the Moon Agent for Change at Sheffield Theatres) and Nickie Miles-Wildin (Associate Director at Graeae).
Stage Sight’s vision is to create an off stage workforce that is more reflective of our society today, inclusive of ethnicity, class and disability. These roles can be anything from stage management to theatre technicians to members of the creative team. Stage Sight showcases good practice and success in this area and raises awareness of the need to achieve a more balanced off stage workforce through encouraging practical, simple steps that its members can take.
Central’s Course Leader for Theatre Sound Peter Rice is a Founding Member of Stage Sight; working with his fellow Committee Members, Peter helps to drive forward Stage Sight’s vision by providing advice, guidance and leadership and by promoting its vision across the sector.
“It’s really about getting organisations together to share practice, knowledge, discussion and thought. Many institutions are doing great work in isolation and hopefully the Stage Sight forums provide a platform to share and exchange that knowledge.”
As a proud member of Stage Sight, Central is committed to making practical changes which help to create an off stage workforce which is more representative and reflective of our society. To find out more about Stage Sight, their work and how to join, please visit their website.
