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July 2007 On Friday 3 June our Outreach Project, The Big March, was photographed by Bradford photographer Tim Smith. After a week of learning promenade and performance skills, we went out and about to make some photographs of Mind the Gap characters in well known Bradford locations. Click here to see our photo gallery. Click here to see the photo gallery
July 2007 The recent CAST! event we ran in association with Croydon Clocktower was a great success. Over 100 people were at the event and there was a real range of learning disabled artists, support workers, casting agents and producers. A big thank you to everyone who took part, it really sparked some interesting debate and opened up lots more opportunities for future partnerships and work for learning disabled artists.
Mind the Gap is On the Move ... June 2007 After 9 years at Queens House in Manningham we're going on a 'Gap Year' before we move to our fit-for-purpose space at Lister Mills. From Monday 25 June 2007 we are in Bradford City Centre while building work takes place in Manningham. Find out how to find us on by going to our 'How to find us' page
Mind the Gap Actor Stars in ITV1 Drama Cold Blood June 2007 Mind the Gap actor Edmund Davies will soon be seen on our TV screens in a lead role in the ITV1 drama Cold Blood. Edmund, who is a student on Mind the Gap's Making Theatre training course, filmed the role of Chris Taylor in Manchester in February and March of this year. He stars alongside a famous cast including John Hannah, Matthew Kelly, Pauline Quirke and Jemma Redgrave. The detective team re-open the case of a young girl found dead in suspicious circumstances several years earlier. The key suspect at the time was Chris (played by Edmund), a boy with learning difficulties who was charged with her murder and spent time in a secure unit. Having now been released, DI Hazel Norton (Pauline Quirke) and DS Eve Granger (Jemma Redgrave) must establish whether Chris did kill the girl or whether he has been withholding crucial evidence.
Cold Blood was shown on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesday 20 June.
Jez Colborne - Rocking All Over the World June 2007 Jez is packing his bags and getting ready to take his one man show, On the Verge, to brand new audiences all over the world. On Saturday 14 July Jez flies to Hong Kong with Mind the Gap Artistic Director Tim Wheeler. On the Verge is booked to play three nights at the Fringe Theatre in Hong Kong as part of the IDEA conference on Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 of July. Look out for a picture story about his trip at the end of July. Jez will also be reaching new audiences world-wide through two web based platforms. Jez has contributed songs to NDAF's latest podcast and also has his own myspace music page! To look at both of these follow the links below: NDAF Podcast - Hear Jez's Songs from On the Verge
News from the first Leading Edge Weekend - Meeting the 'Magnificent Seven' May 2007 Leading Edge is an exciting new national network set up by Mind the Gap and funded by the Cultural Leadership Programme. The aim of the network is to promote the work of learning disabled artists all over the world. As well as 5 established learning disabled artists from England, the Leading Edge programme has attracted interest from other parts of the world too. The Scottish Arts Council approached Mind the Gap and agreed to fund a fellowship for dancer Marsaili Farquhar. In Canada, the Calgary SCOPE Society spotted an opportunity for Jen Stewart to join the 2-week programme and set up another fellowship to enable her to participate. Six of the 'Magnificent Seven' met up for the first time on the weekend of the 19 May to start their leadership training and they are very much looking forward to making the seven complete in September when Jen flies over from Canada for the two week Leadership course. To read more about what they got up to click on this link
First Leading Edge Network Members Announced May 2007 The founding members of Mind the Gap's groundbreaking new national network to support the work of professional learning disabled artists, Leading Edge, have been selected. They are: Jez Colborne, Marsaili Farquhar, Anna-Marie Heslop, Wayne Hooks, Donna Lavin, Faisal Yusuf and Jen Stuart. Originally only five places were up for grabs but with thanks to Scottish Arts Council we are delighted to welcome Marsaili, and we welcome international network member Jen on a Canadian Fellowship with thanks to Calgary Scope. Leading Edge is funded by the Cultural Leadership Programme. Read more about Leading Edge here.
Mind the Gap in association with Croydon Clocktower presents CAST! March 2007 If you are a learning disabled actor, or you work with learning disabled actors, you want to train learning disabled actors, or want to employ a learning disabled actor, this day is for you…. It is on Thursday 31 May 2007 10am to 4.30pm at Croydon Clocktower.
Mind the Gap Win CABE Architecture Award January 2007 We've had a great start to the New Year with news of an award win. CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) has given us an award for championing inclusion in our building design for new premises within Bradford's iconic Lister Mills. Each year CABE gives a Festive Five Award to five individuals, five public sector organisations and five private companies whose forward thinking and high aspirations have resulted in great architecture and design. Mind the Gap have been working with Allen Tod Architecture, to create seamlessly inclusive design for the new performing artists' workspace opening later this year. We are working together to create a space that feels safe and secure where people can work and learn. We have considered every detail of the design – including door handles, use of colour and other visible clues for way-finding – to ensure that the needs of those using the new building are fully met.
December 2006 On 4th December Disability Equality went to the top of everyone’s agenda. On this day, every local authority and governmental agency (including Arts Council England) published its Disability Equality Scheme (DES). We’re sure you’ll agree this is fantastic news for disability and culture in the UK. As part of the DES, each public body has to consult with disabled people about how best to deliver and improve their plans. This is where we need your help. We want you to contact them and ask for a copy of their Disability Equality Scheme. They should be able to provide you a copy in whatever format you need, be it in Braille, in audio or in an easy read format. We will be doing this as well. If you want to find out more about what should be in a DES, you can read the Code of Practice produced by the Disability Rights Commission at www.drc-gb.org. Let us know how you get on by emailing arts@mind-the-gap.org.uk
November 2006 Thanks to everyone who voted for Jez in the DaDa Awards. A regular Mind the Gap collaborator, Jez was nominated in two categories - Performing Arts and Artists Choice. The DaDa Fest is run by North West Disability Arts Forum (NWDAF). They are a leading Disability Arts Development Agency, based in Liverpool and working throughout the northwest region of England, increasingly nationally and internationally. We look forward to bringing you more news on Jez and his projects in the future - keep an eye on the News pages!
East Meets West...Find out all about our trip to China November 2006 At the beginning of October performer and musician Jez Colborne travelled to Beijing in China to perform On the Verge at the China-Europe Performing Arts Symposium co-ordinated by Informal European Theatre Meetings (IETM) network. Artistic Director Tim Wheeler, and Administrative Director Julia Skelton travelled with him and went to the Symposium. Go to this page on our website to see a photo story about the trip. http://www.mind-the-gap.org.uk/perform/USAphoto/China2006OntheVerge.html
Bradford Framed Exhibition from Beam Festival Now Online October 2006 An exhibition of photographs made by actors and students at Mind the Gap is now available to see online. The exhibition was originally shown in The White Room at the National Museum of Photography Film & Television in March as part of the Beam Festival. To look at the exhibition go to this link http://www.artspider.org.uk/gallery/November%202006/ and click the right arrow on the image thumbnails to find the start of the exhibition.
Anna-Marie Set to Shine on Our TV ScreensOctober 2006 Acting Company member Anna-Marie Heslop makes her debut on BBC TV on Monday 16 October. Anna recently filmed an episode of Doctors. She is playing a character called Christina who is a young disabled woman who wants to be more independent. The episode will be shown on BBC1 at 2.05pm on Monday 16 October 2006. Read more about Anna's career by clicking here
September 2006 Our acclaimed one-man show makes two trips next month, first to Ilkley Literature Festival then further afield to Beijing in China. Beijing will be our International Debut.
We’re really excited that we can show On the Verge at Ilkley Literature Festival on Thursday 5 October. We have not performed at the festival before and it will be the last chance to see the show in this country for a while so book early! There will be an introduction from our President, Baroness Lockwood, and a Q&A afterwards with Jez and writer Mike Kenny.
Our International Performance Debut will be with On the Verge at the IETM (Informal European Theatre Meeting) in Beijing on Wednesday 11 October at the South Gate Space in Beijing's 798 Arts District. Tim, Julia and Jez are going to the meeting and will be talking to people about our move to Lister Mills. We hope to make International contacts to work with in the future. Click on this link to find out more.
July 2006 Our Summer show opened to rapturous audiences in Croydon on 30 June. A cast of 24, including local performers from Croydon, worked together to amaze audiences with their colourful story of the Phoenix. With colourful silks, stunning puppets and a fiery finale over 150 people enjoyed the show, with 79% saying it was excellent. We all had a fantastic time in Croydon and send a big thank you to everyone we worked with in the outreach team and at Croydon Clocktower - thanks for having us! The Phoenix rose in Bradford a week later to sell out audiences. 88% of them said it was excellent! Click here for a photo story.
June 2006 Mind the Gap's new show, Phoenix, is coming to Bradford and Croydon in June and July 2006. See the rise of the mythical bird in this theatrical spectacle at Croydon Clocktower on 30 June and 1 July or at Lister's Mill in Bradford on 6 July and 7 July. For details of the show and how to buy tickets see our Summer Season page.
Anna-Marie Heslop's national TV success May 2006 Acting Company member Anna-Marie Heslop has successfully auditioned for a role in BBC TV drama, Doctors. She will play the part of a young disabled woman, who is starting to think about leaving home and living away from her parents for the first time. Filming will take place in May 2006. We do not yet know when the episode will be shown, but will publish details on the website as soon as they are available.
This is not Anna-Marie's first taste of TV success. In 2001 Anna played the part of Shona in an episode of the Bill and in 1999 she starred alongside Robson Green in TV drama Rhinoceros. In 2003 ITV made a documentary about Anna, talking to her about her TV and theatre success.
Anna-Marie has worked with Mind the Gap for many years. She was a member of the drama club before completing the Making Waves apprenticeship and becoming a founder member of the Acting Company in 2001.
Thank you to all who contributed to Beam March 2006 The Beam Festival closed on 24 March with the Show & Tell event at Bradford City Hall. Show & Tell was a day showcasing work by learning disabled artists and looking at the questions of how to move forward. The day was a great success, with 100 people from all over the country attending.
Mind the Gap would like to thank all of the learning disabled artists and companies who have worked on the Beam Festival over the month of March.
Thanks go to StopGAP Dance Company, the Oska Bright Film Festival, the Beautiful Octopus Club and Red Club night. Bradford's National Museum of Photography, Film and Television hosted the final evening of the festival, with a VIP reception and a performance of On the Verge. The museum also worked with six learning disabled artists on a photography residency and exhibited the photographs from the residency during the festival.
Oily Cart came to Bradford to work for a week with members of Mind the Gap's Acting Company and during that week produced a piece of theatre called Washday Blues - a multi-sensory experience, which was performed at Bolling Special School in Bradford and again at Show & Tell.
The whole festival was hugely enjoyable and everybody went away enthusiastic and full of new ideas.
Beam Festival gets off to a flying start March 2006 The Beam Festival got off to a terrific start on Friday 3 March with the opening event at the Carriageworks in Leeds. Guests braved the snow to attend a reception event, with interviews and performances from actors, students and collaborators. On Saturday evening StopGAP dance company delighted audiences at Yorkshire Dance Centre in Leeds with three short dance pieces: Corpus, Dancers Syndrome and Thank You for the Eggs! Sunday 5 March was the Beam Festival's Film day. Throughout the day short films from the Oska Bright Film Festival were shown at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television in Bradford. Oska Bright showcases short films made by people with learning disabilities. The next Beam events are the club nights in Hull on 9 March and in Leeds on 14 March. Remember to look at our Beam pages for full details of all the events.
February 2006 When actor and Mencap ambassador Christopher Eccleston heard about the Beam learning disability arts festival happening throughout Yorkshire in March, he said: 'People with learning disabilities are still under-represented in mainstream arts, though artists and organisations like Mind the Gap and Mencap are working really hard to change this. Beam is a great opportunity to bring a fantastic range of talents and art-forms to a wider audience. Yorkshire is certainly setting the standard for everyone. With such an action -packed and varied programme, Beam urges us all to sit up and take notice of people with learning disabilities and what they can contribute to the arts.' For full details of the Beam festival visit our Past shows pages.
Mind the Gap gets green light for move to Lister's Mill January 2006 A partnership between Mind the Gap and City of Bradford Metropolitan District council has led to a funding award totalling £818,943 by the European Regional Development fund (ERDF). The funding will enable Mind the Gap to take one step closer to moving to purpose built premises in the dye house in the Silk Warehouse, part of the Urban Splash regeneration of Lister's Mill in Manningham, Bradford.
Mind the Gap has already raised £1.25 million from Arts Council England and this additional funding plugs the gap needed by the company to go ahead with its move. Now that we have just over £2 million in place, architectural and building work can start at Lister's Mill. Allen Tod Architecture of Leeds is designing a space that will help the creative work of Mind the Gap. The building will include new computer technology and practical access solutions to make sure that the building is accessible and usable by people with learning disabilities.
Mind the Gap's Artistic Director Tim Wheeler said "we are delighted that we have been successful with our bid to ERDF for essential funding for our capital project at Lister's Mill. We now have the green light for capital development for purpose-built prestige premises, which is important to Mind the Gap's artistic development and the development of an artists' workspace. The building will make it possible for Mind the Gap to promote and keep creative and innovative people and their ideas inthe District, and make sure local people can take part in cultural activity."
Culture & regeneration Portfolio holder for Bradford Council, Councillor Simon cooke said "The council is very pleased to be involved in this project with Mind the Gap who we see as an important element of Bradford's cultural industry. The European grant funding we have secured will not only provide a high quality HQ for Mind the Gap but will also contribute to the ongoing redevelopment ambitions for Lister's Mill that the council is pursuing with Urban Splash".
Executive Director for Arts Council England, Yorkshire, Andy Carver said "I am very pleased that this European money, on top of the Arts Council's investment, now makes it possible for Mind the Gap to pursue its plans for a new base at Lister's Mill. This is a very exciting development which will really contribute to the company's artistic progress, creating an important asset of real benefit locally, regionally and nationally". This key funding enables essential building works and the equipping of the space to progress, but the work is not over yet. Phase two will be to work on raising funds to equip the building for Mind the Gap's outreach and learning & skills work and national touring programme, community spaces for hire and investigating assistive technologies and practical solutions to create a performing artists' workspace that provides exemplary access.
Mind the Gap achieves Investors in People Standard December 2005 In December 2005 Mind the Gap undertook an Investors in People assessment and is pleased to have acheived the Standard. Investors in People is a national quality standard which sets a level of good practice for improving an organisation's performance through its people.
On the Verge goes to Edinburgh July 2005 Mind the Gap makes it Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut in 2005 with its acclaimed production, On the Verge. This captivating tale of a man, a Harley and his epic journey down Route 66 is playing at Theatre Workshop as part of the Degenerate3 Disability Arts Centre on 11th, 12th and 13th August at 12.15pm. If you are visiting the Festival this year make sure you come along to Theatre Workshop to see Jez Colborne tell the story of his trip along the main street of America. Tickets cost £10 / £6 and are available by calling 0131 226 5425. For further details of the show, visit our Spring Season pages.
Mind the Gap's new production of Animal Farm comes to Bradford Festival May 2005 At this year's Bradford Festival, Mind the Gap will be performing an adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm. The performances will take place in the No Fit State Circus Tent in Lister Park. This year's production is bigger than ever, with members of the Acting Company joining together with Making Theatre and Staging Change students and a group of Outreach participants to form a 28 strong cast. For full details see our Summer Season page.
Read what the critics are saying about On the Verge February 2005 ...laced with delicious irony and irreverent humour... Kevin Berry, The Stage, February 2005 read more reviews and see the production shots of On the Verge
Jez and Tim return from America October 2004
In October 2004 talented learning-disabled performer, Jez Colborne and Mind the Gap's artistic director, Tim Wheeler, travelled across the USA on a Harley Davidson. Their journey followed the old Route 66 and will form the basis for Jez's new one man show, On the Verge, which will be touring nationally in Spring 2005. The journey had been Jez's lifelong dream. Did America live up to Jez's expectations? You will have to come and see the show to find out!
Mind the Gap launches a brand new training course June 2004 Mind the Gap has launched a brand new training course. Staging Change runs from September 2004 - June 2005 and is funded by the Department for Education and Skills. It aims to bridge the gap between mainstream theatre training opportunities and training provision for people with learning disabilities by offering five of the country's most talented learning disabled actors the unique opportunity to train with Mind the Gap and some of the nation's top drama schools. Tim Wheeler, Artistic Director says: "Learning disabled actors are starting to get more performance work - in theatres, on film and on television - which is great, but many people with learning disabilities still find it difficult to get access to good quality training. Now, thanks to the DfES there is a chance for talented learning disabled actors to get some of the training non disabled actors have been receiving for years through the Dance and Drama Awards Scheme." The five actors are: Anna-Marie Heslop of Mind the Gap, Jessica Foster of Theatre Resource, Faisal Yusuf of Moment by Moment Theatre Company, Chris Pavia of StopGap Dance and Jez Colborne, a freelance actor and musician. They will work with Mind the Gap and some of the schools in the Dance and Drama Awards Network including Oxford School of Drama, The Arts Educational Schools, Guildford School of Acting Conservatoire and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Back to top
Mind the Gap website wins award April 2004
Not content with being an award winning theatre company, Mind the Gap now has an award winning website. This site has been designed and built by Leeds based company Brahm Digital. It won the prize for Best Not for Profit Website at the 2004 Digital Yorkshire Internet Awards. The site has been built so that it can be used by as many people as possible including people with disabilities and different user needs. This is at the heart of everything Mind the Gap does so it is brilliant to win an award for it!
Mind the Gap launch new branding.Nov 2003
You may have noticed something different about us? We have developed a new branding for Mind the Gap. You will be seeing this new branding on everything that we produce, not only on this website but on all our stationary, fliers and posters. Mind
the Gap win Audiences Yorkshire
Nov 2003
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