Press
Making multi-sensory theatre
“While in a lot of ways our creative process is similar to that of other theatre companies, there’s a handful of key areas we look at to make sure the work we create is relevant to our audience. ” — Amber Onat Gregory and Lucy Garland, The Guardian
Making theatre more accessible, albeit in a very different way.
The Times, The Sunday Times - Clive Davis
Making theatre more accessible, albeit in a very different way, was the goal of a series of shows that went ahead with a lot less fanfare. On the National’s main Olivier stage, actors from Frozen Light, a company that stages multisensory work for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities, put on four performances of a condensed version of the National’s hit Ballet Shoes, the cast interacting with audience members who were sitting on the stage.
I wouldn’t even have known it had all been going on if I hadn’t had a coffee with Simon Minty, a board member at the National. Minty, who has a form of dwarfism, runs training courses and founded the comedy troupe Abnormally Funny People. Chatting to him brought home to me how many barriers still exist, yet he remains upbeat. We now take it for granted, he says, that an actor in a wheelchair can be cast in a period work such as London Tide, the National’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Our Mutual Friend.
But there are still lots of battles to be won. When I mention that the dimly lit spaces in the National foyer must be off-putting for anyone with limited sight, Minty adds that the dark carpet causes problems too, but because it is part of the building’s original design there’s a limit to how much can be changed without breaching conservation rules. Progress comes one small step at a time.
Learn About Accessible Theatre with Frozen Light
Vector Works
Frozen Light creates bold, high-quality sensory theatre designed specifically for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
The Ancient Oak of Baldor - magically and deeply connected
The PRSD
The Ancient Oak of Baldor from frozen Light creates a fantasy world that is six sense stimulating and deeply connecting.
Genuinely radical: Meet the pioneering theatremakers serving disabled and neurodiverse audiences
The Stage
Demand for productions designed for autistic people and those with learning difficulties is outstripping supply. The heads of three companies pioneering these performances talk to Lyn Gardner.
A show for all senses
Community Living Magazine
A theatre company takes multi-sensory shows on the road for audiences with profound disabilities. It’s a lot of fun and influences mainstream arts, say Lucy Garland and Amber Onat Gregory.
Staging Theatre for Audiences With Profound Learning Disabilities
The Guardian – Culture Professionals Network
Frozen Light theatre company shares what goes into making its multi-sensory work for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
A Sensory New World
Arts Professional
Lucy Garland explains how her company makes theatre accessible to adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Frozen Light’s Lucy Garland on making accessible theatre for people with with profound and multiple learning disabilities
London Theatre
Lucy Garland explains her motivation behind starting the company, and the process behind making the productions.
Interview: Lucy Garland on The Isle of Brimsker
Theatre Weekly
Interview with Lucy Garland about touring The Isle of Brimsker and making multi-sensory work.
Interview with Frozen Light’s Lucy Garland
Wales Arts Review
Lucy Garland discussing The Isle of Brimsker and theatre accessibility
Creating Theatre for Audiences with PMLD with Amber Onat Gregory
Spotlight
Amber Onat Gregory talks to Spotlight about her experience in creating theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities
The Isle of Brimsker Interview
Theatre Full Stop
Interview with Lucy Garland discussing Frozen Light’s fourth production ‘The Isle of Brimsker’
Frozen Light: opening theatre’s doors to adults with learning disabilities
The Stage
The designer of Frozen Light’s latest multi-sensory show The Isle of Brimsker and the organisation’s co-founders tell Tim Bano how they have turned theatre on its head to cater for their audience’s needs
Dramaturgy in The Forest
Vile Arts Blog
Lucy Garland, Artistic Director, discusses the dramaturgy and aims behind Frozen Light’s The Forest
Euan’s Guide interview
Euan’s Guide
Frozen Light discuss sensory elements, the reasons for small audiences and other considerations when presenting work for audiences with PMLD.
2016 Q&A
Edinburgh Broadway World
BWW speaks to Lucy Garland of The Forest ahead of their run at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Lucy Garland: Making a path through the forest
Three Weeks Edinburgh
Detailed interview discussing what makes theatre accessible for audiences with PMLD and what motivated Amber and Lucy to form Frozen Light.
Five Fast Fringe Questions
The Reviews Hub
Short and snappy interview about taking The Forest to the Edinburgh Fringe
Frozen Light interview with Daytrippers
We Are Daytrippers
A spotlight on Frozen Light’s work, how we started and why we make multi-sensory work.
Multi-Sensory Magic
Etihad Airlines, Transit Lounge
Amber Onat Gregory, Artistic Director, discusses Tunnels, PMLD with audiences and what’s next.
Touring Tunnels with house
house Blog
Frozen Light discuss touring their first theatre production, Tunnels, with support from house in the earliest days of Frozen Light.
Sensory performance and accessibility
house Blog
Discusses how sensory performances make theatre accessible to audiences with PMLD.
Making Digital Work
“We’re delighted to be able to reach audiences during this challenging time in the pandemic. We hugely miss engaging with audiences within a theatre setting but hope this film can bring some Frozen Light magic to people’s own homes.” — Amber Onat Gregory, Theatre London
New film for PMLD Audiences
British Theatre Guide
British Theatre Guide announcement of Frozen Light’s 2065: The Multi-Sensory Movie.
Frozen Light present 2065: The Multi-Sensory Movie
Theatre London
Theatre London announcement of Frozen Light’s 2065: The Multi-Sensory Movie.
Getting Back to Theatre
#LoveLowry blog
Lucy and Amber discuss projects they’ve done during the pandemic, and their move to digital work.
Podcast Launch
“Many of our interviewees feel very forgotten and we hope that by getting their stories out into the world it will support people with PMLD to become more visible and make the authorities think more about the needs of this group. ” — Lucy Garland, Theatre Full Stop
Frozen Light Launch Podcast
Broadway World Blog
Lucy Garland explains why Frozen Light decided to start a podcast to stay in touch with the PMLD community during 2020 Covid lockdown
Frozen Light Theatre talk about their new podcast created to connect with the PMLD Community
Theatre Full Stop
Lucy Garland speaks to Lucy Busaba about starting The Frozen Light Podcast.
Interview: Lucy Garland talks to Chloe Fry on Centre Stage
Centre Stage
Lucy Garland talks to Chloe Fry about starting The Frozen Light Podcast.
Features
Saba Salman: Arts can shine a light on many an overlooked area
Community Living Magazine
Arts is one activity that can help push for social change – and right now, trying to make a difference is vital.
Exeunt Feature, All in a Row
Exeunt Magazine
Alex Oates' play about an autistic child has sparked a multi-layered conversation about disability and representation. Alice Saville writes on why it's time for its makers to listen.
Frozen Light: opening theatre’s doors to adults with learning disabilities
The Stage
The Stage Feature about The Isle of Brimsker, with a focus on Set Designer Kat Heath on designing multi-sensory productions.
Multi-sensory show brings theatre experience to Scots with profound and multiple learning difficulties
The Sunday Post
Feature about Frozen Light touring The Isle of Brimsker to Scotland.
On Tour with Young Children
Notnow Collective
Amber Onat Gregory, Artistic Director, discusses life on the road with her family, from the crucial help provided by her parents to the challenges of bedtime in a hotel room.
Multi-Sensory show tours the UK
Contrary Life
Feature on The Isle of Brimsker tour.
First ever Fringe show designed for people with profound disabilities launches at festival
Herald Scotland
Feature about Frozen Light taking The Forest to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Making the arts accessible radio interview
24 Monocle
Podcast which features Amber Onat Gregory from Frozen Light and Amy Bethan Evans from Access Platform discussing accessibility in theatre in the first 13 mins of the podcast