RAMPS ON THE MOON PODCAST
Disability equality leader, Michèle Taylor, steers the Ramps on the Moon podcast into the heart of mainstream theatre. With special guests, she discovers the joys, the frustrations, the successes, and the learning in elevating disabled people into the centre of theatre work.
Join Michèle as she shares the realities of the ‘now’ and what the future can hold for disability equality in the arts.Michèle is a disability equality trainer and consultant who set up her own business in 1992 to work with arts and other cultural organisations.
She has seen immense change across the sector in that time, and is still impatient for more:“It’s time to focus on anti-ableism: recognising that as disabled people, we are no longer satisfied with being granted access into an essentially ableist sector. I am proud of the Ramps on the Moon partners for the work they have done to reflect on their own structures and processes, and to share their learning.”
Episodes
14 episodes
Ep 14: Rachel Sharpe from the RSC - Head of Co-Creation, Creative Learning and Engagement
Michèle Taylor talks to Rachel Sharpe, Head of Co-Creation, Creative Learning and Engagement at the Royal Shakespeare Company.In this powerful conversation Rachel chats about:
Ep 13: Maximillian Fairley - Screen and stage actor - starring in ITV show 'Unforgotten'
Michèle Taylor talks to Maximillian Fairley - screen and stage actor about his flourishing career and what matters to him to be able to do his best work.Max talks about his experience in playing a lead role (Harry) in World Premier
Ep 12: The Production Exchange team on their journey to an anti-ableist organisation
Michèle Taylor talks to Penelope Saward and Ben Oliver at The Production Exchange about their steps, successes and challenges towards creating an anti-ableist organisation following their year-long journey on the Ramps on the Moon
Ep 11: Mat Fraser, stage and screen actor, writer, drummer and anti-ableist activist
Michèle talks to Mat Fraser - stage and screen actor, writer, drummer, and an anti-ableist activist. Join us for this lively, interesting and challenging podcast episode!Mat is well known for his powerful presence on both stage an...
Ep 10: Amy Trigg, actor, writer and Olivier Awards winner joins the conversation
Michèle Taylor talks to Amy Trigg, actor, writer and comedian, as well as Olivier Awards Winner in 2024 for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for 'The Little Big Things'.Amy talks about how representation has improved greatl...
Ep 9: Zak Ford-Williams, screen and stage actor (Bridgerton,The Hardacres)
Michèle talks to Zak Ford-Williams, screen and stage actor in Bridgerton (Lord Remington), The Hardacres (Harry Hardacre), Wolfe (Tyler) and The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man (Joseph Merrick).Zak knew he wanted to act at ...
Ep 8: Making a meaningful evaluation of the Ramps on the Moon project
Clare Hammerton carried out the independent evaluation for the Ramps on the Moon consortium. In this episode, Michèle asks her about the challenges of evaluation (especially in a multi-partner project) as well as talking about why ...
EP 7: The important impact of having an AGENT FOR CHANGE in your theatre
Ben Wilson and Aisling Gallagher have been Ramps on the Moon Agents for Change at Sheffield and Theatre Royal Stratford East respectively. They are both also independent theatre-makers.They give us a fascinating insight into what an Agen...
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EP 6: Throwing down the gauntlet on Access with David Bellwood, Head of Access at The National Theatre
Michèle talks to David Bellwood - Head of Access at The National TheatreMichèle and David discuss rigour around language and what it means for David to be a non-disabled person working in the area of ‘access’. David throws ...
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EP 5: Producing an accessible show with Eleanor Lang and Sean Brooks from Theatre Royal Stratford East
Eleanor Lang and Sean Brooks are from Theatre Royal Stratford East. Eleanor is Executive Director and Sean is Deputy Producer and a freelance producer.Michèle asks the 64 million dollar questi...
EP 4: Anti-ableism activism with Andrew Miller MBE, UK Arts Access Champion
Amongst other things, Andrew Miller is the UK Arts Access Champion and a broadcaster and cultural consultant and commentator with an impressive CV. In this episode, Michèle asks Andrew about his career so far, and the ‘accidents and...
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EP 3: Making Work - The Artistic Side with Amy Leach, Deputy Artistic Director of Leeds Playhouse
Disability equality leader, Michèle Taylor invites Amy Leach, Deputy Artistic Director at Leeds Playhouse to talk about her work as a director and how her approach has grown as a result of working with disabled and deaf performers.
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EP 2: How do you start making it happen? With Dan Bates, former Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatres
Disability equality expert, Michèle Taylor, talks to Dan Bates, former chief executive of The Crucible, Sheffield Playhouse and the Sheffield Lyceum.... asking him how he started to make it happen as a Ramps on the Moon partner.excited to b...
EP1: Introducing Sarah Holmes, co-founder of Ramps
Welcome to the Ramps on the Moon Podcast.In this first episode, Anti-Ableist leader, Michèle Taylor invites Sarah Holmes into the recording studio to talk about how Ramps first started; from conception in 2015 to present day.Mee...
