Image description - a large group of arts practitioners are seated in a circle sharing thoughts and ideas about disability equality in the arts. There is a flip chart and a BSL interpreter positioned at the top of the circle. The image is taken from a workshop session at The Conviva Disability Arts Symposium at ARC Stockton as part of the Cultural Shift programme.
Our Artistic Director, Vici Wreford-Sinnott, has almost thirty years experience in theatre and disability. She specialised in theatre direction at the University of Kent, where she also took playwriting. She is currently undertaking a practice based PhD in Disability Theatre at Teesside University. In addition to disability, she is knowledgeable about feminism, having set up one of the North Easts first feminist theatre companies in 1994, and is committed to examining representation and narratives which challenge dominant traditions and the status quo.
Her own practice as a writer and director means she consistently examines the possibilities of social justice and change through theatre, and also how we make the live experience of theatre impact in meaningful ways with audiences. Vici has designed and developed a wide range of artist development programmes throughout her career including mentoring and training. She set up the pioneering Disability Theatre Lab for disabled theatre makers in Newcastle and has designed and delivered an RTYDS Introduction to Directing programme for Deaf and Disabled theatre practitioners at ARC Stockton.
She worked with Arcadea, formerly NorDaf, to design and deliver their Disability Arts Ambassadors Scheme which was a forerunner to the 'agent of change' model. With ARC Stockton, Vici designed and delivered Cultural Shift, a three year Artistic Strategic programme for disability equality in an arts venue. It is an original and effective model of practice. She is a highly respected disability equality trainer and regularly delivers training in the arts and culture sector. Vici also regularly features on panels, in discussions and offering provocations to the arts sector. She has also delivered keynote speeches.
Her own practice as a writer and director means she consistently examines the possibilities of social justice and change through theatre, and also how we make the live experience of theatre impact in meaningful ways with audiences. Vici has designed and developed a wide range of artist development programmes throughout her career including mentoring and training. She set up the pioneering Disability Theatre Lab for disabled theatre makers in Newcastle and has designed and delivered an RTYDS Introduction to Directing programme for Deaf and Disabled theatre practitioners at ARC Stockton.
She worked with Arcadea, formerly NorDaf, to design and deliver their Disability Arts Ambassadors Scheme which was a forerunner to the 'agent of change' model. With ARC Stockton, Vici designed and delivered Cultural Shift, a three year Artistic Strategic programme for disability equality in an arts venue. It is an original and effective model of practice. She is a highly respected disability equality trainer and regularly delivers training in the arts and culture sector. Vici also regularly features on panels, in discussions and offering provocations to the arts sector. She has also delivered keynote speeches.
