City Bridge Trust funds theatre training for deaf and disabled young people

A theatre company which puts Deaf and disabled actors centre stage has been given a funding boost from London’s largest independent grant-giver.

The Hoxton-based Graeae Theatre Company has received a £260,400 grant over five years from City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder.

The money will fund a training and learning co-ordinator to lead three groups helping Deaf and disabled children and young people break into the arts and develop their skills and confidence.

It will fund The Rollettes and the Young Company – theatre groups for children aged five to 11 and 12 to 18 respectively – and The Ensemble Intensive, a training programme helping 17 to 30-year-olds develop careers in the creative industries.

“Deaf and disabled young people looking to break into the arts often have to overcome a number of barriers including other people’s preconceptions and practical issues such as accessibility and cost.  Graeae is recognised internationally as a centre of excellence in this field, and this funding will allow it to help even more young people break through these barriers and boost their confidence, life skills and independence.”

Dhruv Patel, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust

Graeae – pronounced ‘grey-eye’ – was established in 1980 and counts among its patrons such luminaries of the arts as actors Dame Emma Thompson and Jenny Agutter and legendary pop artist Sir Peter Blake.

The full article is available on the City of London website.