Disabled + Disobedient Festival

Elspeth (she/her) is a theatre maker originally from the depths of South East London, but who abandoned the big smoke in favour of the big blue. A lot of her work revolves around: dismantling class stereotypes, confronting injustice, all through that dark sense of humour her mumma gave her. Her work is informed by experience as opposed to theory. Or the more “Salt of the Earth” approach, a phrase she’s trying to reclaim from certain theatre “professionals”.

She works with the military community with Bravo 22 (a recovery through the arts programme), continues to make messy and chaotic theatre with her company Skin and Blister, and f*cks about with spoken word every now and then.

Her work has been shown at an array of venues including: The Almeida, The Arcola, The Pleasance, The British Museum and The North Wall.

Introducing Alex Fincher, a multi-talented artist breaking boundaries in the world of music and entertainment. This singer-songwriter, music producer, and mesmerising drag performer is a force to be reckoned with.

Calliope in both name and nature is an ethereal poet and performer. One who frolics among language and prose as if it was a playground to summon musings that touch the soul. 

A passionate activist and an open mic organiser and extraordinaire, you can find them performing and campaigning in and around Brighton, London and the South West. Their disability and advocacy for accessibility spurs them toward their passions and a better world.

Erin James is a Brighton / London based multi-disciplinary artist, hoping to change the world "one poem at a time". Their framework for creating manifests as the merging of art and activism through their practices. Erin is passionate about using their art forms, such as poetry and sound, creative facilitation, zine making, DJing and Photography as a vessel for social change and decolonial healing.

Image credit: El Halahan

Theyvid (Catriona Judt) is a singer, actor, playwright and drag artist. Along with over a decade of musical theatre experience, they have co-written and perform in new musical Idle Women, and are co-founder of local queer art collective: The Fools. They enjoy glam rock, growing plants, and watching sci-fi/fantasy shows over and over again.

I am a disabled dance artist creating work which combines my lived experiences with elements of neuropsychology in order to produce performances that educate us, connect us, and initiate conversations that usually remain unspoken.

As part of fuse collective, I have created works which have been performed across London and South East England and most recently completed a traineeship with Vincent Dance Theatre for their production PLAY.

Currently, I am creating a new work 'Baggage' under Dance Hub CIC's artist development programme 'A Space to Call Home' which is due to premiere at The Dance Space in July 2024.

Image Credit: Zsófia Benedek