Blowing the roof off
Words Emily Pattullo
Photo credit: Kate Little Photography
Glass Ceiling Arts Collective is an all-inclusive performing arts program for both disabled and non-disabled children that supports youth empowerment. They have seven youth theatres throughout the country which makes it accessible geographically, as well as an extremely affordable membership that makes it accessible financially, too.
Charlotte Nightingale is the co-founder and artistic director; herself neurodiverse and also mother to a disabled son. Previously from Touch Compass, she wanted to offer not just disabled children a platform to express but also non-disabled too, in order to better encourage inclusivity. “So often the groups for disabled children are kept separate, we wanted to create a safe space for all kids – which can include siblings of disabled children as well,” says Charlotte.
Charlotte says that her eventual diagnosis of ADHD liberated her into realising her strengths and weaknesses, that her inability to focus in the classroom as a child didn’t mean she wasn’t normal, merely that her particular attributes lay elsewhere, specifically in expressing herself through art and dance. “It was a huge weight off my shoulders,” she says. “Some of the most creative people have struggled in their lives, and that’s reassuring.”
As well as opening two new centres, one in Whangārei and one in Christchurch, Glass Ceiling is in the middle of a big project which focusses on “multi-sensory theatre and film, for people with PMLD (profound multiple learning disabilities)”. For this Charlotte has written a digital work called ‘Spark’, which is about her own child who has a heart condition. The mum is played by actress Jackie Clarke, and her daughter is played by Lily Mae Ivatt-Oakley who was in ‘Down for Love’. Soon to be released, Spark uses multisensory props at various stages throughout the show. “For example, during a dream sequence, Lily Mae’s character is running through a paddock, she’s wet and cold – this will be made sensory for the audience by having ice grated on them using a cheese grater,” says Charlotte.
The plan is to take the show from digital to live in theatres later in the year, with the help of funding from Creative New Zealand, Foundation North, IHC Foundation, and Arts Access Aotearoa.
Glass Ceiling Arts Collective is reclaiming the word Disabled (with a capital D) and wearing it with pride to include all walks of life. Whether it’s physical disabilities, behavioural, neurological or even as a result of poverty, they are redefining the barriers and boundaries that separate ‘us’ from ‘them’, and they’re doing it inclusively. “Society is what disables us,” says Charlotte. And that’s the point of Glass Ceiling Arts Collective, to en-able those who have been dis-abled by modern societal expectations and outdated models of how we ‘should’ be.
Every year, Glass Ceiling puts on one fullscale theatre production, and this year it’s Cats. Chosen by the young people, they will be involved in all aspects of the show, from performance and music to costumes and behind the scenes. As part of the inclusivity, the aim is to present really high-level performances for low rates that will enable everyone to enjoy the show, and to then seek out funding for the rest.
Cats will be performed at Warkworth Town Hall from Friday 12 May to Sunday 14 May. Tickets are available through the website under events.
Spark is due to be released via the website and will be free to watch. There will also be a screening at Matakana Cinemas.
www.GlassCeilingArtsCollective.com
Charlotte@GlassCeiling.com