Graeae’s Crips Without Constraints: The Gift

The Gift by Leanna Benjamin Performed by Sharon D Clarke and Saida Ahmed A pregnant woman has to make a terrible choice, but will her mother respect her decision? Five exciting new plays from a new generation of Deaf and disabled artists. Starring Dame Harriet Walter, Sharon D. Clarke, Mandy Colleran, Naomi Wirthner, Cherylee Houston and Julie Graham. Following the critically acclaimed first series in spring 2020, Graeae’s Crips Without Constraints returns in the new year with five brand new short plays, celebrating the best talent and creativity of Deaf and disabled artists from across the UK. The new plays, all bold and brilliant duologues, are written by Leanna Benjamin, Rebekah Bowsher, Karen Featherstone, Kellan Frankland and Jessica Lovett, all alumni from Graeae’s Write to Play programme, covering topics from sibling rivalry to death by post stick notes. Addition-ally this year, the pieces will all be directed by upcoming disabled directors Stephen Bailey, Hana Pascal Keegan, Cheryl Martin, Alex Whiteley and Lilac Yosiphon. Combined with these plays, every Thursday Graeae will release a short, filmed conversation with Deaf artists in British Sign Language, discussing in more detail the themes from that weeks play. The plays and BSL conversations will be available to watch through Graeae’s YouTube channel. All pieces will be captioned and audio described.