More and more people are realising that disability is part of life and everyday society
- Jonathan Lewis, Acting Company at Mind the Gap
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The story of Mind the Gap
In 1988
Mind the Gap was set up by Tim Wheeler (our current Artistic Director) and Susan Brown. The company performed in residential homes, in skips, and anywhere else they found interesting.
In 1992
Augusto Boal came to train Mind the Gap in his ways of making theatre. Called Theatre of the Oppressed, it is all about showing people how the world can be, and looks at ways of making things different. Mind the Gap loves this kind of theatre, and went to Brazil for some more in 1993.
In 1993
Mind the Gap started taking its tours around the country in 1993, and toured devised work until 2000, when they started making theatre adaptations of classic books as well. Mind the Gap picks work to adapt that will mean something to learning disabled people, and looks a bit differently at the stories, issues and characters.
In 1998
In 1998 Mind the Gap launched its first actor training course. In 2001 it became Making Theatre, a course for people who want to learn about theatre and work towards a qualification.
In 2000
Mind the Gap has toured adaptations of Of Mice and Men (2005, 2000), Don Quixote, Pygmalion and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
In 2002
In 2002 the company was given the Stage Award for Outstanding Achievement in Regional Theatre at the Barclays/TMA Awards, for its adaptations of classic texts.
In 2005
Staging Change began in 2005. It has helped 38 aspiring learning disabled actors to participate in training at some of the UK’s top drama schools, through the Dance and Drama Awards scheme.
In 2007
Mind the Gap was a key partner in Yorkshire’s 2006 BEAM festival which showcased the work of disabled artists across the region. In 2007 Mind the Gap set up CAST!, a conference day for learning disabled actors and people who want to work with, train and employ them.
In 2008
In 2008 Mind the Gap converted an empty warehouse into a state-of-the-art performing artists’ workspace. The Silk Warehouse includes fully accessible purpose built rehearsal studios, which are available to hire, and fabulous new offices for the company to work in.
