Birds of Paradise Theatre Company
Scotland's touring theatre company promoting disabled artists and supporting the arts sector
After a successful collaboration in 2020/21, we are delighted to be working again with Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, offering a disabled playwright support in the creation of their ideas. A career in the arts is not straightforward for anyone: we recognise, though, that disabled artists face an increased number of barriers, from starting out to working […]
Giving consultation about Disability Equality A live policy co-design project, with an aim of shaping new cultural policy for the Mexican state of Jalisco, through an innovative, participatory citizen-led approach. Innovation for Culture (Innovación para la Cultura) was collaboratively run by British Council Mexico and Cultura Jalisco, and supported by STBY, Aura Cultura, Birds of […]
We are delighted to be working with Imaginate to offer a disabled artist professional mentoring. Holding Space is a mentoring programme for artists and freelancers working in the young audiences sector in Scotland. Imaginate are now looking for mentees who would like to have paid sessions with an artistic mentor to explore a specific area […]
Reflections on Freelance Task Force and Disabled Community in Scotland Written by Sandra Alland Collage of performances and film stills from ‘A Wake’, September 17, 2020. Left-Right, Top Row: Emilia Beatriz, Lisa Li, Jeda Pearl. Left-Right, Middle Row: Brooklyn Melvin, Raman Mundair, San Alland, K. Yvonne Strain, Etzali Hernández. Left-Right, Bottom Row: Bea Webster, Lake […]
Working Safely through Covid-19: Seven Inclusive Principles for Arts & Cultural Organisations The suite of guidance documents produced by the UK and Devolved Governments to support the reopening of the cultural industries largely focus on headline safety issues. Many Sector Support Organisations have also developed additional guidance but access has often been overlooked. The below […]
Mairi was invited to speak on behalf of PiPA at UK Theatres Theatre Means Business webinar with Parent and Carers in Performing Arts on Thursday 9th July 2020. Hi, I am Mairi, the Executive Producer at BOP. We are the only disability-led theatre company in Scotland. We, obviously, make theatre, though not right now, and also […]
Why Are We Doing This? As the pandemic continues, the performing arts industry is beginning to ask questions about how it can safely reopen for audiences, but planning for this does not always take into account the considerations of disabled audiences. We understand that disabled audiences have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and that […]
Lockdown is hitting hard, and Scotland’s National Theatre is desperate for submissions for its inspiring new project. Could the stage be set for the Kirktoon Players, the country’s “leading” amateur dramatics group, to step into the spotlight? Time to get their heads together and show these uppity professionals how it’s done. Richard Conlon and Gail […]
We are very pleased that BOP has joined the sector-wide initiative ‘Freelance Task Force’ BOP joins hundreds of other companies across the UK in working to establish a #FreelanceTaskForce – to strengthen the influence of the self-employed theatre and performance community during these uncertain times. The Task Force will create ongoing points of connection between […]
These are very strange and unfamiliar times for everyone – as Scotland’s disability-led theatre company, we’re really aware of our role in supporting disabled artists and our colleagues in the theatre sector to stay safe and supported as we go through this together. So we would like to invite you to a weekly online meeting […]
BOP is turning 25 this year – to celebrate we have been in conversation with some of the key figures who have helped to make the company what it is. Robert is Artistic Director of Birds of Paradise. Robert is an established figure in the Scottish arts scene, with over ten years of experience […]
BOP is turning 25 this year – to celebrate we have been in conversation with some of the key figures who have helped to make the company what it is. Johnny McKnight trained at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He works as a writer, director, performer and educator. His work has taken him throughout Scotland, London, […]
