The impact of interdisciplinary approaches to disability studies and theatre: learning the notes and the tune

Interdisciplinary perspectives are crucial in navigating recent shifts in diversity agenda in the theatre industry and ensuring continued moves towards the accurate onstage representation of disabled people. Knowledge that is commonplace for disability scholars is still unfamiliar to many involved in day-to-day theatre work. Understanding of lived experience perspectives of disability is also lacking, yet this is crucial for making sense of attitudes, structures, and environments experienced in theatre settings.

This paper considers: what aspects of disability studies knowledge are most necessary to share in building disability consciousness in the theatre sector and training; how interdisciplinary perspectives might support individual’s process of exploring new territory, building familiarity across disabled and non-disabled communities, and sharing responsibility for industry-wide change; and who is best positioned to influence interdisciplinary perspectives in theatre inside and outside the disabled community. It includes the proposal of Stages in a Process of Engagement with Theatre Practice and Disability for Actors and Directors.