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The Missing Piece
Lead researcher: Claire Hodgson
Performer: Pete Edwards. Creative enabler: Michael Achtmann.
Technical support: Gary McFarlane
Since February 2003 London Metropolitan University has hosted
and jointly delivered The Missing Piece with Graeae Theatre Company.
The Missing Piece is a year long training course for aspiring
performers with physical and sensory impairments. We are currently
in the second cycle of delivery. The Missing Piece has been a
journey for all involved. This paper aims to reflect on that
journey and on the contribution Graeae is making to the wider
theatrical
community. It is intended as a provocation and a starting point
for discussion. The Disability Discrimination Act means that
all Performing Arts, Drama and Dance training and education in
the
U.K will have to make 'reasonable adjustments'. The
paper is written from the perspective of an academic who is involved
in delivering a degree programme and who also teaches on the
Missing Piece programme.
I hope to examine the following:
- What artistic adjustments are
required when delivering a Performing Arts course to adults
with disabilities?
- How have these new artistic practices impacted
on the degree
programme?
- How does an academic department work effectively
with a professional theatre company?
- What is 'inclusive
practice' and how might it be
disseminated to theatre practitioners?
- Are there any similarities
to previous work undertaken by Feminist, Lesbian and Gay, and
Black and Asian companies?
- How has performance work with Missing
Piece students informed my performance as research?
- How has
working on the Missing Piece challenged my notions of what
performance is?
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