How I became an artist

Robert Softley. Photograph: Niall Walker

“Becoming an artist happened by accident”

Robert Softley, Co-Artistic Director, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company

For me, becoming an artist happened by accident. I used to do a lot of public speaking when I was still at school, talking about my experience of inclusive education. After one of these events, a company approached me and asked me if I’d ever thought about performing. I hadn’t. I’d been involved in amateur theatre before, but only ever backstage – props, a bit of directing – stuff like that. I’d never been on stage. So obviously I said “Yeah, great! I’ll audition for your company.” And then I got the job – that was about 15 years ago. About 10 years ago I realised that there were things that I wanted to say that as an actor I couldn’t say and that I had to write my own work. So that’s what I started doing…

Robert Softley was presented at Unlimited 2014. He wrote and directed Purposeless Movements for Birds of Paradise in 2016. Watch the trailer

Katherine Araniello. Photograph: Rachel Cherry

“I am pleased that my body was rendered useless”

Katherine Araniello, performance and video artist

I became an artist when theatre rejected me. Every enquiry I made to study theatre was greeted with the assumption that I was too physically disabled and therefore I would not be able to partake in the physical activities theatre requires.

I am pleased that my body was rendered useless, as it has given me the opportunity to become a successful live performance artist and to continue developing my practice. I make art happen by being the instigator, director and author of the artistic process.

Katherine Araniello was commissioned to create The Dinner Party Revisited for Unlimited 2014. Watch the trailer

Birds of Paradise performs Purposeless Movements. Photographer: Mihaela Bodlovic

“How did I become an artist? Well first off, I’m not sure that I am an artist.”

Garry Robson, Co-Artistic Director, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company

How did I become an artist? Well first off, I guess I’m not sure that I am an artist. I knew from an early age that I wanted to perform, write and tell stories that were mysterious and beautiful, that I hoped by extension made me seem mysterious and beautiful. Stories that tried to express what made us all tick. Stories that were fuelled my pure gobsmackedness at the iniquity of the world. If that counts, then I guess I am an artist. I know I have called myself one on numerous occasions.

So. If I am one. I think what made me become one was when they said I couldn’t be one, because my legs worked differently. That and hopelessly falling in love with a poet and an artist – different people – and a small quantity of hallucinogenic drugs. After that things that helped were generous collaborators – artists, companies and venues – and an Arts Council producer who believed in me and supported my work.

Birds of Paradise was part of Unlimited 2014. The company is currently working on a commission with collaborators from Hong Kong as part of Shakespeare Reworked, premiering in November 2016 in Hong Kong with a live link to Glasgow. 

“I remember asking, ‘Does this mean I can call myself an artist now?’ It did.”

Nye Russell-Thompson, AKA Stammermouth

I was never a confident kid. I had a lot of great friends, and felt confident with them, but rarely felt like a strong person by myself.

I had a severe stammer that whittled down my self-esteem, and needed something to push me out of my silence and social anxiety. The specific moment I started down the performance route was the day my GCSE options had to be submitted. I crossed out ‘Tech Graphics’ at the last minute, and replaced it with ‘Drama and Theatre Studies’.

Theatre performance has been my favourite pursuit since, a strange playground/expression tool mix-match that was a key way for me to conquer my once-debilitating stammer.

At the University of Chichester, I devised Just a Few Words, a one-man show made to raise understanding of stammering. A lengthy development period later, I performed it on the Edinburgh Festival PBH Free Fringe in 2015, where it was nominated for the Total Theatre award in the 'Shows by an Emerging Artist' category. I remember speaking to a lovely guy from Total Theatre at the bar where they held the awards ceremony, asking, "Does this mean I can actually call myself an artist now?"

It did, I love it, and I cannot imagine stopping.

Stammermouth performs Just a Few Words at Unlimited 2016. Watch the trailer

Stopgap performs Artificial Things. Photograph: Chris Parks

“When an injury left me paralysed, I thought I could no longer be a dancer”

Laura Jones, Interim Artistic Director, Stopgap Dance Company

Dance has always been a passion of mine, ever since I can remember. I can’t really name one particular thing that inspired me to start dancing, it’s just it’s always what I loved doing. When I had an injury at the age of 16, which left me paralysed, I was gutted because I thought that it meant that I could no longer be a dancer. But I was wrong. Definitely very wrong. With the support of my tutors, I returned to college and I completed my ‘A’ level in dance. And then after that, I went on to join Stopgap Dance Company.

Over the years with Stopgap, I’ve worked very hard and spent a lot of time honing my personal dance technique. It’s taken a lot of self-discipline and determination to discover what I’m capable of as a disabled dancer, because there’s so few of us out there. It’s been a case of finding my own pathway as to what I’m capable of. I’ve been a professional dancer for 15 years, and I’m still finding new possibilities, new ways of working and discovering new things about myself. I’m glad that now my journey has taken me on to doing advocacy work for disabled arts. I’m really proud to be able to support future generations of disabled artists and to help give them a stronger voice and make a difference in the arts world.

Stopgap performed at Unlimited 2014. The company is currently creating a new piece, The Enormous Room. Watch a video about its creation process

Amit Sharma. Photographer: Richard Matthews

“Try and work with people who are better than you”

Amit Sharma, Associate Director, Graeae Theatre Company

I was at home during holidays from my university course when a letter popped through the letter box from London Disability Arts Forum about an actor training course set up by Graeae.

Having flirted with acting in my younger years, it seemed an opportunity I couldn’t miss and I’m so glad I didn’t. It’s set me up for a career which I still pinch myself in having. Making a career out of a passion for the arts – wow – it doesn’t get any better! There’s consistently been a huge advocate of mine and I don’t think I’d have the same confidence, perseverance and ‘never give up’ attitude if we hadn’t met in 1999 – Jenny Sealey. From working as an actor, assisting as a director, to learning leadership in running a theatre company that consistently challenges perceptions and embraces diversity, Jenny has been a stalwart in my learning and an advocate for me as an artist. I’m eternally grateful.

The one piece of advice I would give is: see work by and to try and work with people who inspire and challenge your artistic vision. Every person has something to communicate and that expression is unique to them. Don’t be afraid of others’ reactions – be confident and open. Oh and try to work with people who are better than you. I’ve done that since forever and am in awe of my artistic colleagues and the work they produce.

 Mher Zalinyan in performance

“Theatre is my second home now”

Mher Zalinyan, dancer, Making the Right Moves (Armenia)

I work for Full Life, an NGO that addresses the social problems of Armenia’s disabled population. Our organisation was contacted by the British Council about a workshop it was holding in Yerevan and I submitted an application. Afterwards I attended a three-day course which helped me understand what an inclusive dance company was like.

I know that the initiative owes its origin to Candoco Dance Company, which is the world’s leading company of disabled and non-disabled dancers. I watched the company’s videos online to have an idea of what our experience was going to be like. I was so happy when I received the call from the British Council confirming I had been accepted for the next stage.

This time I attended a 20-day workshop hosted by Candoco specialists, after which we staged a small show to give the Armenian audience their first hint of an inclusive performance. Ne me quitte pas/ Do not leave me, the first inclusive dance performance in Armenia, is the result of our intensive work. The reception of the performance was positive and enthusiastic and we also won the Artavazd award.

Theatre is my second home now. We work all the time and experiment with new techniques. When Jemima Hoadley arrived from Britain, she started helping us to stage Hiraeth, which will premiere in September at the Unlimited Festival. I am so happy to have been included. The performance is challenging but our producer is always there for us. It feels great to be an actor, you have your round of applause and your work gets appreciated.

If you haven’t decided on your future career yet, I would strongly recommend that you go into art. Don’t let your disabilities limit your opportunities. I have never considered my disability as a problem. You just need to be consistent to reach your goals.

Making the Right Moves performs Hiraeth at Unlimited 2016, produced by NCA Small Theatre. Watch the trailer

Manuk Saghatelyan in performance

“The next day I went to the theatre and I haven’t been off the stage since”

Manuk Saghatelyan, dancer, Making the Right Moves (Armenia)

It was simply a matter of chance that Armine, my mentor at a charity called Orran, met Teni, who told her about the project they were about to launch. They suggested that I join the project. I told them I wouldn’t be able to dance but they asked me to try. The next day I went to the theatre and I haven’t been off the stage since then.

I am very happy to have been able to overcome my initial shyness and inhibitions. I have a message for everyone: it’s important to try everything; otherwise you won’t be able to see what you are capable of.

Anush Smbatyan in performance

“I thought I might not be able to dance but they asked me to give it a try”

Anush Smbatyan, dancer, Making the Right Moves (Armenia)

When I was in an NGO called Sunbeam, I received a call from the British Council and was asked whether I would like to join the project. I first thought I might not be able to dance but they asked me to give it a try. I did and it was a great experience. Now I have my part in the performance and would like to test my skills in many more.  My part in the performance has been the greatest victory for me and I would strongly encourage everyone to join similar projects.

The programme made great changes in my life. I found friends, started going out more. I love my part in the performance. It was really challenging for me to try new moves in the performance but I was able to overcome this. I love being greeted with applause.

Sheila Hill

“It is beautiful work which allows you to get to the bottom of an idea”

Sheila Hill, writer, theatremaker and installation artist

When my son, all too frequently, asks me why I became an artist (the job with no money), I say it is beautiful work which allows you to get to the bottom of an idea.

Sheila Hill premieres Him at Unlimited 2016. Find out more

The artists were speaking to Roisin Perry, our Unlimited 2016 Intern.

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