About the performance

Superheroes is a spectacular piece of professional performance involving diverse disabled artists, first developed with young people through real-time and online participation. What makes someone a hero and how can we define those actions? Superheroes creates an experience that integrates sign language, audio description, subtitling and some text, to make its answer to this question accessible to the widest audience.

Key Personnel

Anouk (Mishti) Perinpanayagam - Creative Producer
Amit Sharma & Rachel Bagshaw - Co-Artistic Directors
Ben Payne - Writer

Production Information

Suitable for all ages

Light use of text

Use of recorded and live music

Require a clear understanding of English and BSL

Currently available with BSL interpretation and Audio description or captioning

Touring Information

Scale of show: Medium scale (400-800 seats)

Suitable for rural touring

Company History

The idea for Superheroes emerged from the collaborators’ shared interest, and background, in new performance work and working with deaf and disabled artists. The conception of this project, “came about through a dynamic process building on the shared passion of our gifted artistic team including input of renowned Artistic Directors Jenny Sealey (Graeae) and Josette Bushell Mingo (PUSH/Tyst Teater) to create a high quality performance opportunity reflecting equality and diversity across the scope of performing arts including digital components; and to test further the reality and risk that comes through fusing contemporary artform disciplines led by theatre, and working across abilities. We see huge potential to create an inspired and inspiring final production, and our decibel pitch is seeking reactions to this, and best potential to take it further to celebrate the diversity of performers and audiences in the UK as well as abroad, starting with Sweden.

Reviews

As Co-Artistic Director of Superheroes Rachel Bagshaw (also Associate artist with Graeae) voices:

"The notion of heroism has both positive and negative connotations for disabled people. What makes someone a hero and how can we define those actions? As a director I am interested in making work which challenges the status quo; as a disabled person I am interested in challenging potential negative societal views around disability and living a life which is in itself a challenge to them. This project allows for an opportunity to explore both these viewpoints, creating a piece of work which will enable both participants and audience to see the Superheroes around them."