During the bustle of the August, we created the space for nine disabled arts workers and allies to learn, rest and make new connections. 

The Global Conversations event invited nine disabled participants to take part in a day of professional development. The day involved presentations, discussions and the chance to see the UK premier of Teatro La Plaza’s astonishing new interpretation of Hamlet, featuring a cast of performers with Down’s syndrome. 

The day was hosted by Callum Madge and Sunniva Ramsay, from Edinburgh International Festival, and by Cat Sheridan, Producer at Unlimited and a member of the Festival's Access Panel. A stipend was offered to freelancers which created the opportunity for people who may otherwise have been excluded due to financial barriers. 

The day began at Dance Base, with a presentation from Chela De Ferrari, writer and director of Hamlet. The presentation gave some key context about the recent history of Peru and its creative industries, acknowledging that disabled people are not as involved within it as they could be.

Using documentary footage of the rehearsal process, De Ferrari spoke about her creative process, and how involved the cast were at every step of the journey. Filmed conversations of the cast showed them chewing over lines from the play and applying it to their own lived experience as people with Down’s syndrome. 

After the presentation everyone made their way to The Lyceum to watch a matinee performance of Hamlet which had added BSL interpretation. After the performance, the group retired to one of The Lyceum's function rooms where we rounded off the day with an open-ended, low-pressure discussion, and were joined again by Chela and the show’s producer Roxana Rodriguez.  

In the open-discussion, participants talked about elements of the play, what they liked and where they had questions. There were also wider conversations about working as a disabled person in the performing arts. Networking events like this are an essential part of a creative practice; meeting other creatives and sharing and learning from each other.  

Networking environments can often not be accessible; too busy, noisy, or there isn’t anywhere to sit down. We designed Global Conversations so that the participants could take part in peer-to-peer conversations that will enrich their practice, but in a supported and relaxed environment. This was appreciated by the people there. 

Below you can read some reflections to the event written by co-host Cat Sheridan: 

‘Access to the Arts is widely acknowledged as a human right, however access is not merely being able to get into see some work. In 2024, with over 24% of the UK working age population identifying as disabled, simply framing disabled people as a siloed audience rather than a core part of the creative make up of any festival/programme is unimaginative and unacceptable. Which is why it was brilliant to witness Edinburgh International Festival creating space for disabled professionals and including disabled artists as part of the critical response to this year’s programme of work.

The act of bringing together and paying disabled freelancers for their thoughts and opinions is sadly still radical in of itself and was a real privilege in an often particularly inaccessible month in Edinburgh. However, the lasting impression of the day to me, came from the commitment, bravery and direct action that this day demanded from Edinburgh International Festival. Working with Callum Madge, as Access Manager, I was struck by how open to the complexity, nuance and challenge this year’s Festival was. They may not have the all the answers yet but they were not shying away from asking the questions.

Edinburgh International Festival has been an ongoing part of my own disabled experience of Edinburgh for many years and the inclusion of not only this work in the programme, but this dedicated day felt like a significant step forward in their commitment to disabled artists.’ 

Part of British Council’s Global Conversation series. Celebrating 90 years of building connections, understanding, and trust.