Claire is a theatre/dance director and artist. Claire is founder and Chief Executive of Diverse City. In 2011 Diverse City received an Unlimited commission to deliver Breathe, an international project between Brazil and Dorset that brought together 64 young disabled people to perform at the opening celebrations of the Olympic sailing events to an audience of 10,000. Since Nov 2012 Claire has been co-artistic director with Billy Alwen of Extraordinary Bodies. Claire was a Clore Fellow in 2012 and writes a column for The Guardian culture professionals online. She is also the former head of Performing Arts at London Metropolitan University. Claire hopes that one day all circus companies look like Extraordinary Bodies.
Becky is a producer, fundraiser, facilitator and theatre director. Becky joined Diverse City in 2012 for Breathe in the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony Weymouth. She has worked in the UK and internationally in theatre, performance education, engagement and diversity in regional venues, producing companies and touring theatres. She has previously been Producer for The Theatre Orchard arts development charity North Somerset, Artistic Associate with the Australian Theatre for Young People and Arts Development Producer Accessible Arts Sydney Australia. Becky has a BA and PGCE in English and Drama and is a graduate of the National Fundraising School. Becky is based in Bristol.
Alice is a Producer and Arts Manager who has worked on a variety of performance projects for Diverse City and other arts organisations in the South West including Activate Performing Arts, Lighthouse (Poole’s Centre for the Arts), Dance South West and Youth Dance England. Alice obtained her BA in Performing Arts and Literature from the University of Winchester in 2005 before training in Prince2 Project Management methodology. Alice has built up a portfolio of arts and cultural projects - many of which have a focus on working with integrated groups of young people. She brings her organisational strengths, creativity and warm personality to the company. Alice is currently on maternity leave.
Jodie is a creative problem solver specialising in marketing and communications; she joined Diverse City in 2015. Jodie studied BA Visual Communication at Leeds College of Art. Jodie was Project Manager of a team of 20 students, responsible for developing, curating and promoting an exhibition presented alongside Damien Hirst's ARTIST ROOMS On Tour, at Leeds Art Gallery in 2011. Her career then followed Communication and Marketing roles at Balbir Singh Dance Company, Swanswell Charitable Trust and ASDA’s head office.
Elana studied theatre at the University of Bristol before completing the Bristol Old Vic’s Made in Bristol programme in 2015. She works as a theatre-maker, dramaturg and performer and has worked with Arts Admin, Scram and the Bristol Old Vic. She has recently worked assistant directing at the Theatre Royal Bath and performed in her company Propolis Theatre’s show ‘Spill: A Verbatim Show about Sex‘ at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Rachel has worked within the arts and communities for the past twelve years. Originally training and working as a performer, her work has included directing, producing, fundraising as well as community engagement, event management and organisational development. Rachel is Creative Producer & Co-Founder of
Jamie Beddard
Co Artistic Director
j.beddard@diversecity.org.uk
Jamie Beddard is part of the creative team behind Extraordinary Bodies. Jamie has Cerebral Palsy and having grown up in a time when opportunities for disabled people in the arts were limited, Jamie was lucky to be offered an acting role by the BBC that kicked off his professional career. Since then Jamie has taken the arts world by storm.
In 2011 he left his role as Diversity Officer for the Arts Council to concentrate on developing his freelance portfolio. He has been an associate director for Graeae Theatre company, co-editor of ‘Disability Arts in London’ magazine, in 2012 he directed ‘Breathe/Battle for the Winds’ for the opening ceremony celebrating the Olympic Sailing, and in 2013 he became a Clore Fellow. Jamie acts as an advocate for the integrated sector, working tirelessly for change.
Eilís Davis
Artistic Director: Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists
e.davis@diversecity.org.uk
Eilís is a facilitator, director and theatre maker. She is an inclusive movement specialist bringing together people of all abilities to participate in creative processes. Eilís graduated from the European Theatre Arts programme at Rose Bruford College in 2011. Eilís now combines theatre with her extensive knowledge in creative support and is focused on developing theatre training practice for young people with access needs. Eilis is also training as a Biodanza Practitioner. Biodanza is an organic integration system that consists in leading vivencias through music, singing, movements and group encounter situations.
David Young
Poet, Performer & Activist
d.young@diversecity.org.uk
Dave is a poet and performer. As a member of the Remix he performed in Breathe, at the Opening of the Olympics at Weymouth and travelled to Brazil, to work with disability dance groups there.
Dave has also performed his poetry at the opening of the Paralympic games in Weymouth as part of the 'Seen but Seldom Heard' project and at Funky Llama Festival, Plymouth Theatre Royal. Dave was a Fixer on ITV Meridian in 2014 where he explored perceptions of disability and asked people not to write off wheelchair users. He has written a book of poetry called the Shouting Mute and made several films. Dave is involved in several Diverse City projects including The Complete Freedom of Truth, an international arts project, Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists company and Dave documents through poetry and film the work of Extraordinary Bodies.
Michael Achtman
Personal Assistant & Access Consultant
m.achtman@diversecity.org.uk
Michael is a filmmaker and access consultant who often works one-on-one providing access support for Deaf and disabled artists. As Access Manager at Graeae Theatre Company from 2006-2013, he coordinated access for artists, staff and audiences. Other key accomplishments include pioneering the model of the Creative Enabler, as well as the roll-out of audio description and captioning across theatre, performance and digital arts. He is an effective communicator and has designed and delivered effective workshops on access and inclusion. His prize-winning film Awake, starring two blind actors, has screened at over 30 international film festivals.
Emma McFarland
Research & Mapping Lead: Diverse Futures 2014-2016
Emma is an Independent Arts Consultant, Researcher and Creative Producer. She graduated with BA (Hons) Economics, later returning to her first love, dance, gaining a Postgraduate Certificate: Community Dance, from Trinity Laban. She has held senior management roles at Swindon Dance, Magpie Dance, NEW Dance, and PLATFORM and developed and produced work for film-maker Peter Anderson, Swindon Dance, 2Faced Dance Company, Historic Royal Palaces, Greenwich Film Festival and several London boroughs. Outside the arts, she initiated and launched one of the charity sector’s first digital learning resources, wiseradviser.org and developed pioneering youth inclusion programmes and policies as Programme Director for international charity Communities that Care.
Nick White
Participation Producer: Extraordinary Bodies 2015
n.white@diversecity.org.uk
Nick is a creative learning specialist engaging with children & young people with theatre in and outside of formal education settings. He has extensive experience of working with leading regional venues and producing theatre companies across the UK and is an experienced project manager, producer and workshop facilitator as well as an actor and writer. Recent work experience includes work with Bristol Old Vic (partner), Take Art (associate), Theatre Royal Bath (Education Officer 2005-08), Theatre Royal Plymouth (Education Manager 2008-10),Travelling Light Theatre Company (Participation Director 2010-14)