Re-framing drama facilitation: towards a social-relational model of co-creating theatre with young adults with learning disabilities

Using thick data analysis of filmed footage of two different practice-led research studies, one from Northern Ireland and one from Sweden, it analyses working methods with a view to understanding and re-examining disability equality in the arts and the facilitation thereof.<br><br>Northern Ireland has been marked by a history of violent conflict, which has seen disability rights policy, models of disability and disability equality legislation imposed through Westminster under direct rule, in direct contrast to their emergence from grass roots organisations across the water in England, Scotland and Wales.

To this day, despite similar disability equality legislation, socially and culturally Northern Ireland lags behind in terms of delivering arts programmes and training (where it exists) which are truly inclusive, integrated (in terms of disability), or empowering, even in those arts organisations which consider themselves to be the ‘most inclusive’ in approach. Disability Arts, as such, does not exist within the performing arts within the region - there are no disabled-led theatre companies in Northern Ireland.