Getting Away From Sidney - BBC TV documentary about Graeae Theatre Company (1981)

Getting Away From Sidney - BBC TV documentary about Graeae, a touring theatre company of disabled actors (1981)

The Arena arts TV programme which put Graeae Theatre Company on the map in 1981.

In this documentary are scenes from Graeae's first show "SIDESHOW", and interviews with the very first and original company, which consisted of Richard Tomlinson, co-founder and director, and cast of six disabled actors (three men, and three women), Will Kennen, Jag Plah, Nabil Shaban (co-founder), Elane Roberts, Marion Saunders and Alex Lowe.

This Arena documentary not only helped begin a revolution in disability arts and culture, but it was also directly responsible for Nabil Shaban being offered work in Channel Four's TV film "Walter", in the Royal Court theatre production of "The Emperor", and the part of Sil in Doctor Who "Vengeance on Varos".

The Arena documentary was produced by Alan Yentob, and directed by Nigel Williamson.

FAIR USE NOTICE: We are making this material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

I am exercising the right to upload the content on my Channel "For the Benefit of the People", because I, as performer and/or writer, have helped create the content of these TV shows and TV movies, and therefore am entitled to share copyright ownership. I am sharing these videos partly to showcase my work as performer and/or writer, and also because the registered copyright owners are not making them publicly available, which is a shame, since this work represents some of the best practice in British television of employing disabled people as performers, writers, producers or directors, and presents a good example of how the entertainment industry should operate world wide.