Birds of Paradise Theatre Company will present New Ground – Access in Process, a showcase of three works-in-progress by disabled artists, at The Boardwalk in Glasgow on 21 November 2026.
The event forms part of a new initiative supporting disabled artists to explore creatively embedded access from the earliest stages of development, integrating elements such as British Sign Language, captions, audio description and relaxed performance principles into the artistic process itself.
The programme features Call Me Ollie by Jamie Rea and Thomas Wood, In/Visible by Rachel O’Regan, and Crip Hall, a new work created by the BOP Young Artists ensemble.
Call Me Ollie centres on an aspiring writer navigating sensory overload, chronic pain and the emergence of a domestic assistance robot that begins developing emotions. The production places BSL at the forefront of the storytelling experience.
In/Visible, directed by Debi Pirie and performed by Brooke Walker, explores the contrast between how a body appears externally and how it feels to inhabit it through parallel narratives delivered via traditional performance and audio description.
The showcase concludes with Crip Hall, a psychological thriller exploring accessibility, belonging and horror through the story of friends who gather in an isolated accessible holiday home in the Scottish Highlands.
Birds of Paradise Executive Director Mairi Taylor said: “The aim of this initiative is to create space for artists to take creative risks, learn from audiences and think about how access can shape the work itself. Creatively Embedded Access is a long-standing part of BOP’s practice, which we are internationally known for, and this event is an opportunity to share and develop that approach with a new group of artists and audiences.
“This event is a perfect example of BOP creating development and employment opportunities for disabled people in the sector while also demonstrating to the sector what can be done when access and disability-led practices are part of the process from the outset.”
Produced by Birds of Paradise with support from producer Aila Swan and the company’s Cue Backstage trainees, the event offers audiences an opportunity to engage with new disability-led work at an early stage of development.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
