Access & Inclusion Advocate Bios

Theatre and accessibility are two of my main passions. I’ve been attending regular performances at the hippodrome since I was a child. I hope that, by being an advocate, I’m able to improve accessibility for the next generation. I’m interested in helping the Hippodrome continue to create an accessible environment for as many people as possible. Allowing everyone more access to theatre and a safe space to be themselves.

I have a strong passion for access and inclusion in all areas. Therefore I started a support group named Connect, Share & Chat for families with disabled children and adults. I host events and bring businesses/organisations together under one roof to exhibit their brands in Birmingham. Being a Fibromyalgia warrior, which is classed as an invisible disability, it’s great to see spaces recognise this and be inclusive.

I work at Sandwell-based Spectra Arts as Impact Lead and at touring dance company New Adventures as Inclusion, Access and Data Manager. I coordinate accessible performances and resources, and oversee data collection and reporting.

As an Access and Inclusion Advocate, I’m keen to develop my local network and contribute towards the Hippodrome’s growth in this important area of work. It’s a venue I visit frequently so I’m excited by the opportunity to make a difference in my region. I’m particularly eager to explore how large, established organisations can adopt radically inclusive working practices and governance.

I have been a primary school teacher for 20 years, whilst also working as a Young Person and Children’s Programming Director for a local Literary Festival. I am currently volunteering as a supervisor at a community larder, am a Town Councillor and loving learning British Sign Language. I have been bringing my own children to the Hippodrome for years and have always been impressed at the range of productions. Working with such a range of young people and witnessing the issues that they face in terms of access and inclusion as both audience members and performers, made me want to join the advocate programme. I hope to use my experience to help make the Hippodrome even more wonderful than it already is!

I am a disabled performer and aspiring theatre writer, director and access advocate. Some of my work includes: access support for a disabled theatre-maker; Front of House in theatres across Birmingham, and an internship with the Hippodrome’s Learning & Participation department, assisting in workshops in schools for children with additional needs.

I applied to be an Access & Inclusion Advocate as having witnessed and experienced the barriers to watching and creating theatre as a disabled person, I feel passionately about dismantling these to create a more accessible theatre environment, so that everyone can have the chance to experience the arts.

My name is Jo Bowen and I have a big interest in theatre due to my theatre costume design background. I enjoy costume and set design and the magic that theatre can bring to people’s lives.

More recently in my current role of working in a school for young learners with physical and medically complex needs. I am passionate about making learners confident and independent individuals to access a range of venues to prevent social isolation.

Through this, there are many barriers. As part of my role, I am working with different companies and venues to support my learners in order to make access and inclusivity more widespread across Birmingham.

I am grateful to be part of Birmingham Hippodrome Access and inclusion advocates and endeavour that we can bring about positive change.

I’m registered blind and own a Guide Dog named Pyrgo who’s fab. My first connection to the Hippodrome was as a piano tuner in the 90s. I’m Advocacy Lead for All Formats, a not-for-profit company producing Braille, large print and audio content. I bring 30 years professional background and a lifetime of lived experience. More importantly, I’m a collaborator – Joyfully learning and working alongside amazing panel members to shape Hippodrome’s inclusive offer to its customers, ensuring Everyone can access us their way and have amazing memories when they interact with our wonderful theatre.

Hi. I am Paul, a (very!) mature postgrad student of Musical Composition. I have been coming to the Hippodrome since I was a teenager in the late 70s, and I now come to just about everything at the Hipp as a Reviewer for the online site www.reviewsgate.co.uk

I became mostly blind and disabled in 1983. I have always found the Hippodrome and its staff off-the-scale amazing when it comes to access, inclusion and support for people with any kind of disability. This is why I applied to be an A&I Advocate; I see this as a chance to “give back” to a place that has given me – and people like me – such a sense of artistic belonging and cultural richness over the last 45 years.

My name is Olivia Hibbert and I trained in Musical Theatre from a young age and then went on to be a professional performer. I performed in shows that toured all over the UK and also performed in London’s West End. Two years ago I was diagnosed with a neurological condition that made me make the decision to stop my performing career.

With the knowledge I now have I decided to become an Educator, Lecturer, Practitioner and occasional Singer of the Performing Arts, working in Universities, Colleges and in SEN schools across Birmingham. I am passionate about helping performers on their journeys, making theatre accessible for all and helping performers keep mentally and physically healthy in what can be a tough Industry.

I love the work I get to do and I want to advocate strongly for all Performers, Artists, Theatregoers, Creatives and lovers of the Arts. My mission is to make the theatre as accessible and open to all as possible, as I feel the Arts is so beneficial. But barriers need to be broken and more understanding needs to be in place. Which is why I am so grateful to be a voice for the Hippodrome Access and Inclusion Advocates Team.

I am a Specialist Nurse, wheelchair user, and access consultant with a rich background in the arts, including previous work at Birmingham Hippodrome. My journey as an Access and Inclusion Advocate here is driven by my career-long commitment to transforming frustration into empowerment for individuals with disabilities. I applied for this role to leverage my expertise in navigating the benefits system and promoting accessibility, ensuring the Hippodrome is a welcoming space for all. My interests lie in fostering a sense of community filled with positivity, humour, and opportunity, tailored to the unique needs of each individual, ensuring continuous commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.

My Name is Michael and my pronouns are he/him. Prior to becoming disabled I was involved in a local musical theatre group. I performed in productions including The Wizard of Oz and Calamity Jane.

My conditions mean that I watch shows rather than perform in them now. My favourite shows include Once, Shrek the Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, Come from Away, Into the Woods and Songs for a New World.

I have a background in supporting health and research projects with inclusion, and saw an opportunity to merge my interests in theatre with that background through becoming an Access and Inclusion Advocate. I am interested in access performances, toilet access, food access and recognition of less well-known conditions.

I’ve seen the Hippodrome as my 2^nd home since I was a little kid as I always feel happy and free to be me. I am a freelance photographer who has photographed for the Hippodrome, as well as being a Young Advocate. I’ve always loved the arts, and find it equally inspiring and heart-warming that creative industries are becoming more and more diverse and accessible for everyone. I was born with Hydrocephalus and have grown to love (most of the time) this condition, that many people don’t really know about; I applied to be an Access & Inclusion Advocate because I want to help the Hippodrome shine a brighter light on inclusivity especially on those conditions that are not visually apparent, like mine. In addition, growing up and even now as an adult, I didn’t see or know of anyone with my condition anywhere, including in the arts industry and other creative industries, so to be the only advocate with this condition is a privilege and honour.

My name is Robert Bate

I am 29 from Burntwood and I am always out the house. I’ve always loved the theatre from a young age and have seen all sorts of concerts and plays, even wrestling. I am part of two drama groups; one called Spectra and one that is based at the Hippodrome called One of a Kind through Open Theatre. Its with the help of Open Theatre that I got my sitcom filmed as they helped me apply to the Arts Council.

I applied to be an inclusion advocate because I don’t hold back in what is needed to be said. I see this as a good opportunity to do that. This course is a unique opportunity to get involved.

What I am interested in with the Hippodrome/Access and Inclusion is making sure that the wheelchair people always get the wheelchair spaces as I have had to transfer many times before with people trying to sit on me because of my mobility issues. I am also interested making sure the audio description is suitable for my needs. I have attended shows before to test the audio description by Open Theatre and instead of picking up the talking, it seemed to pick up background noises, so it was not easy to understand what was being said. Even the audience applauding. Going back to Wheelchair spaces the people who sat behind at the front are having a descripted view. This means they’re not going to see the show to easy.

My name is Roma, and I currently work as a Careers Consultant. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in my second year of university, which has given me a personal understanding of the challenges faced by those who feel like underdogs. My mother, a refugee who came to the UK from Uganda in 1972, has inspired my dedication to inclusion and representation.

Inclusion and access are incredibly important to me because I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience and participate in the arts. Throughout my life, I have often felt the impact of being underrepresented and understand the barriers that can prevent people from accessing cultural and artistic experiences. I am committed to breaking down these barriers and ensuring that the arts are open to all, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance.

Representation matters, and I want to ensure that everyone sees themselves reflected in the arts. By advocating for inclusion and access at Birmingham Hippodrome, I aim to create a space where diversity is celebrated and where everyone feels welcome. My goal is to make the arts more accessible and inclusive, so that they can inspire, educate, and connect people from all walks of life.

My ancestors have lived and worked in the slums and factories of Birmingham since the 1700s, and would have witnessed The Hippodrome being built and opened in 1899!

The Hippodrome is part of my identity. I see every musical and pantomime, and most ballets. It maintains my mental health by providing stability in my life, and is always giving me something to look forward to. Having personally experienced the Hippodrome’s mental health benefits, I hope to enhance that potential and share it with the community in my role as an Inclusion Advocate.

I am in my final year of studying Forensic Psychology (BSc) with The Open University. I love animals, and have had black cats all my life. I like quiz shows, karaoke, writing fiction, and painting. My favourite music genre is grime. I also like; garage, house, American country, 20s-40s swing and blues, 50s-60s RnB/Soul… and of course, musical soundtracks!

The Hippodrome has been my second home ever since I was small, with some of my favourite memories happening in their red plush seats. However, since becoming disabled in 2018 I have found it increasingly challenging to leave the house and I was no longer sure how I “fit in” as an audience member and how I would physically access the theatre with my new limitations. But life is too short to be fearful and being a part of this initiative means I can make new, likeminded friends whilst shaping the future accessibility of the theatre for others like me. What a privilege!

I have always loved theatre from the age of 2 and half! I particularly love musical theatre and when I saw the chance to get involved with this programme, I jumped at the chance! I am autistic and currently doing a number of voluntary roles that help other people in different ways. This programme, however, gives me the chance to combine what I love doing most with helping others to get involved with the arts. It’s a win – win!!

Hi! My name is Jamie Hawkins, and I grew up in rural Herefordshire. I was always keen on music and drama throughout school, before attending the Academy of Contemporary Music in Birmingham where I received my Ba(Hons) in Music Industry and Song Writing. Whilst studying there and performing music in and around Birmingham, I became involved with the charity Turtle Key Arts (TKA), facilitating children with autism in creating fantastical operas over the course of the projects, in partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre.

My first project with TKA is where I got to meet some of the amazing Hippodrome Team! Since then, I have gained further experience working with different groups of people in different settings: teaching maths, music and English, to children with and without Special Educational Needs, working in care with adults with acquired brain injuries, and acting as Access Host, again with the Hippodrome Team!

I am very excited to be volunteering soon in East Africa, again in educational settings, before starting my Masters in Music Therapy in September, as well as for the continued development of the amazing Access and Inclusion programme at Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre!