Second Literature Review – (Professional Inquiry. )

The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance

Vol. 14, No. 1, February 2009, 133_139                                                                                        

  K. Dacre and A. Bulmer

Interview   -                                                                                                                                  

Into the Scene and its impact on inclusive performance training                                                     
Kathy Dacrea* in conversation with Alex Bulmerb                                                                         ARose Bruford College, Sidcup, Kent, UK; bProject co-ordinator, Graeae Theatre Company, UK

This Piece of literature – “Interview into the scene and its impact on inclusive performance and training between K. Dacre and A. Bulmer”, was brought to my attention by my personal Adviser Paula Nottingham as she felt it could aid me in completing my inquiry. I personally couldn’t agree more. This interview includes the key points I want to investigate (inclusion throughout vocational training and the performing arts industry)  it also demonstrates well thought out questions and a professional structured interview. I hope that the interviews I plan to carry out for my inquiry are as successful as this example.

In autumn 2006 the Arts Council England set up the Into the Scene project in order to increase the number of disabled and deaf theatre practitioners graduating from accredited training courses and to increase the quality of their experience. A team from Graeae, the disabled-led theatre company that profiles the skills of actors, dancers and directors with physical and sensory impairments, was chosen to work on the project. In this interview with Kathy Dacre, Alex Bulmer, the project co-ordinator, describes and assesses its achievements. I personally feel that this type of project is vital into making inclusion in the arts industry and training programs an everyday occurrence. During the “Into the scene” briefing they described the project as

“a practical intervention designed to challenge and address institutional barriers in order to increase the quantity of disabled/deaf artists entering and graduating from accredited training courses and to increase the quality of that experience.”

This statement displays the positive changes surrounding the integrated arts and more establishments and accredited courses should embrace what this scheme is trying to achieve, support and follow in their footsteps. Throughout my inquiry I am going to take inspiration from organisations such as this “into the scene” project to establish my interview and its questions.

 This piece of literature focuses on the interview between Kathy Dacrea and Alex Bulmerb. Kathy Dacrea shows a well-planned and professional interview I feel this is due to the type of questions she puts forward to the participant. Each question has a purpose and receives a beneficial and honest answer.  

The first Question given was “Alex why do you think the arts council set up into the scene?  This is a focused yet board start to the interview and gives Alex the boundaries to give his honest opinion which is important at this stage of the interview process.  I found his reply very useful to my own personal inquiry:                    

“ Arts Council England set it up through their London office in order to address a very uncomfortable truth. Very, very few disabled people were graduating, attending or even applying to performing arts institutions. So the main questions were why is this the case and

what can we do about it?

This reply demonstrates the “uncomfortable truth” that there are very few disabled people entering the arts and training programs. Its schemes such as this one that can help change this although it is easier said than done. The project “Into the scene” took a while to get off the ground although now is holding s budget of around £47.000 which is being invested into the program. Also in 2006 a year long project Scene change was established in arts schools this was a DaDas for disabled students entering the industry.

During Alex’s response for the first questions he asks the question “What can we do about it?” The answer is with more schemes such as the “into the scene project”. Although I believe that we can’t begin to solve a problem until we are aware of the rout course. I am interested to know what is stopping talented disabled students into entering training, is it an ethical issue? A case of stereotype? Confidence? Or a pure lack of opportunities’ and publications of disabled bodies in the arts? I am hoping to try and answer some of these questions during my inquiry to result in finding a way the change the lack of newly qualified disabled actors and dancers.
Reviewing the first question of this interview it has helped me understand what it is I need to investigate and how I should structure my interviews so I can complete my inquiry professionally and successfully.