Mind The Gap

Mind the Gap is England’s largest learning disability theatre company that creates work for UK and international audiences. Our vision is to work in an arts sector where there is equal opportunity for performers with learning disabilities: a world where performers are trained, respected and employed equally, and feature every day on our stages and screens. We work in partnership with learning-disabled artists to deliver a bold, cutting-edge and world-class artistic programme that impacts locally, nationally and internationally. Work that excites, surprises and challenges audiences. Our aim is to make great theatre that makes audiences think differently. By “theatre” we don’t just mean shows that you can see in arts and theatre venues, but also performances and events in different spaces and places.

Mind the Gap is England’s largest learning disability theatre company that creates work for UK and international audiences.

Our vision is to work in an arts sector where there is equal opportunity for performers with learning disabilities: a world where performers are trained, respected and employed equally, and feature every day on our stages and screens.

We work in partnership with learning-disabled artists to deliver a bold, cutting-edge and world-class artistic programme that impacts locally, nationally and internationally. Work that excites, surprises and challenges audiences.

Our aim is to make great theatre that makes audiences think differently. By “theatre” we don’t just mean shows that you can see in arts and theatre venues, but also performances and events in different spaces and places.

Chicken Coup!

Duration: 20 minute street theatre, can be performed multiple times in a day.

Description: Chicken Coup is a fun and exciting, non-verbal street theatre performance. There are thrilling chase scenes, lots of slapstick, general silliness and fowl language in this family friendly festival piece.

Chicken Coup has toured to Alles Muss Raus, Kaiserslautern, Kultur vom Rande, Reutlingen, and numerous festivals and events across the UK.

People on road: 5 people

Freight: necessary

Freight details: The show fits into a small van / large car. For locations further than mainland Europe, we would need to arrange air transport. No equipment needs to be locally sourced as the production is self contained.

CONTAINED

Duration: 80 minutes plus interval

Description: Aimed at ages 11+, CONTAINED is a vibrant, compelling and personal show: min interwoven true stories about family and friendships, love and loss, the everyday and the extraordinary.

Combining live performance, film, photography, music and dance, CONTAINED explores those small moments in life that suddenly become meaningful: moments that teach us about ourselves, and the world we live in.

Extra information: CONTAINED was conceptualised as a venue based performance but can be adapted for other spaces with a blackout facility. CONTAINED originally toured the UK in 2015/16 appearing at MTG Studios, Bradford, ARC, Stockton, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Gulbenkian, Canterbury, New Wolsey theatre, Ipswich and The Albany, Deptford. The show will be interpreted into French and Swedish ahead of its appearance at Crossing the Line Festival in Roubaix, France in January 2017. This means we can add a level of interpretation to the show in any language.

People on road: 10-20

Freight: necessary

Freight details: The show fits into a long-wheeled base van. For locations further than mainland Europe, we need to arrange air transport. Full international tech spec available o

Irresistible

Duration: 60 minutes

Description: Irresistible is a site-sensitive, family friendly, energetic and breathtaking live event combining music, theatre, film and sirens.

Irresistible tells the story of a man on a journey. He meets the Hobos who guide him; the Crew who intimidate him; and the singing Sirens, who lure him.

Irresistible has toured London’s Southbank Centre, National Theatre, Olympic Park, Bradford, St Helens, Unity Festival Cardiff, Berne, Geneva, Basel, Zurich and Reutlingen, performing in an array of different venues such as indoor and outdoor theatres, a quarry, a library, and a stairwell!

People on road: 10-20

Freight: necessary

Freight details: The show fits into a standard transit van. For locations further than mainland Europe, we would need to arrange air transport. PA and lighting / projection equipment needs to be locally sourced. Full international tech spec available on request.

Mind the Gap have years of experience in providing high quality, informative and educational wrap around work.

Our touring teams, co-facilitated by our professional performers with learning disabilities, can provide talks, workshops, post-performance discussions, residencies and masterclasses. In addition, we can work with local groups of people with learning disabilities to create community casts for Irresistible and Trickster, or bespoke performances.

Our wrap around activity is aimed at a wide range of people, including audience members, people with learning disabilities, arts professionals, etc.

“It forces us to rethink the dominant narratives around disability, defiantly and joyously trashing any idea of lives diminished and less fully lived and experienced.” – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian (about CONTAINED)

“Most of us live at a shallow level of communication. Contained shows us that it doesn’t have to be this way; that a section of society that is all too frequently stereotyped and regarded in a derogatory fashion, can through openness and honesty, be more intelligent than the crowd.” – Colin Hambrook, Disability Arts Online (about CONTAINED)

“We continue to be inspired by you here in NYC, can’t wait to continue the collaboration.” – Katy Rubin, Theatre of the Oppressed, NYC (about Mind the Gap)

“Mind the Gap is the most vibrant theatre company I’ve ever encountered.” – Talley Gale, USA (about Mind the Gap)