Understanding Access from  Head Over Wheels

As an integrated company we are challenging misconceptions on disability: breaking stereotypes of how a ‘circus body’ should look and move; striving for inclusivity in the arts and encouraging people to use the social model of disability (questioning how environments we create, ‘dis-able’ people with blame falling on them).

There are very few inclusive companies or training opportunities for disabled circus and physical theatre artists. We are paving the way for change and the Anchored in Air  project is a crucial way forward and builds on our respective work with Diverse City and Extraordinary Bodies.

We believe art and theatre should be accessible to all, to reach a diverse audience and to effect more people. There will be two versions of the show with the outdoor version removing barriers that some face when trying to see performances in theatres. For disabled people in particular, theatres can be inaccessible, therefore we want our audiences to feel seen and represented on stage. We plan to make an indoor version of the show in winter 2024 with dramaturgical development and lighting design.

We aspire to tour and work internationally, step one is our relationship with Teatronis in Kaunas Lithuania, brokered by Crying Out Loud, with one week residency and three days of performances in Vilñius and Kaunas. As well as giving us the opportunity to premiere the show internationally we can begin a international residency exchange, initiated by Crying Out Loud and Third Version Creative to deepen the understandings around access and perceptions of disabilities in different cultures.