1980s and 1990s
Image description - a young Karen Sheader performing with the Fugertivs at a Tragic But Brave Cabaret. She is playing guitar and singing, with a handwritten tragic but brave sign in front of her. She is standing at a mic, and is wearing brown velvet top and has long brown wavy hair. There is also a charity collection container in the shape of a little boy.
1986 The Lawnmowers Theatre Company founded
A learning disability theatre company based in Gateshead sharing the experiences of disabled people and using forum theatre to explore complex ideas in accessible ways.
A learning disability theatre company based in Gateshead sharing the experiences of disabled people and using forum theatre to explore complex ideas in accessible ways.
1990 National Disability Arts Forum founded in Newcastle
1991 Northern Disability Arts Forum set up
A group of disabled artists, writers, and representatives from arts organisations and statutory bodies in the North-East meet and decide to launch a Disability Arts Forum in the area: NorDAF
A group of disabled artists, writers, and representatives from arts organisations and statutory bodies in the North-East meet and decide to launch a Disability Arts Forum in the area: NorDAF
1992 (16 May) - National Disability Arts Forum AGM,
Including cabaret with The Jarrow Elvis Roadshow, Tragic But Brave, The Northern Writers Workshop, No Excuses, and Tom Shakespeare
Including cabaret with The Jarrow Elvis Roadshow, Tragic But Brave, The Northern Writers Workshop, No Excuses, and Tom Shakespeare
1992 Invisible Cabaret Disabled Women's cabaret group set up
13 disabled women took part in workshops facilitated by Them Wifies to explore work about their lives
13 disabled women took part in workshops facilitated by Them Wifies to explore work about their lives
1992 (9 December) - The Invisible Cabaret Show
The first chance to see Invisible Cabaret, a new performance group of disabled women present an evening of drama, poetry, song and comedy using their experiences as disabled women for inspiration. Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
The first chance to see Invisible Cabaret, a new performance group of disabled women present an evening of drama, poetry, song and comedy using their experiences as disabled women for inspiration. Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
1993 (June) Tyneside Cinema, in association with NORDAF
Presenting a season exploring the representations of disability in film and television
Presenting a season exploring the representations of disability in film and television
1994 Tyneside Cinema and DEAF OWL
A Deaf-led film production company from Gateshead hosted the first Deaf Film Festival
A Deaf-led film production company from Gateshead hosted the first Deaf Film Festival
1994 Bedlam
NorDAF organised two cabarets for International Day of Disabled People in Middlesbrough and Newcastle featuring The Tokens, Rupa Sarker, Sue Vass, Invisible Cabaret, and Out of Redcar Mind.
NorDAF organised two cabarets for International Day of Disabled People in Middlesbrough and Newcastle featuring The Tokens, Rupa Sarker, Sue Vass, Invisible Cabaret, and Out of Redcar Mind.
1994 Beginnings of Deaf Youth Theatre project at Theatre Station in Blyth.
A day of activities resulted in the production of a play entirely based on the interests of the young Deaf people involved. They decided to meet regularly and hold a summer school.
A day of activities resulted in the production of a play entirely based on the interests of the young Deaf people involved. They decided to meet regularly and hold a summer school.
1990s Tyneside Disability Arts founded
1995 Sue Vass appointed as a Disability Arts worker in Co Durham.
Sue of Mavis Dishcloth fame was an artist herself. The Ubiquitous Dishcloth: A history of the Work of Mavis Arbuckle was an exhibition with an opportunity to meet Mavis who told her story of being tortured and bewildered rising above defeat to produce dishcloths of fantastic quality and style. Candoco came to schools, Kaite O'Reilly came to Trimdon Writers Group, Darlington Media Workshop ran a photography and silkscreen course and Sue co-ordintated the Different Lives exhibition.
Sue of Mavis Dishcloth fame was an artist herself. The Ubiquitous Dishcloth: A history of the Work of Mavis Arbuckle was an exhibition with an opportunity to meet Mavis who told her story of being tortured and bewildered rising above defeat to produce dishcloths of fantastic quality and style. Candoco came to schools, Kaite O'Reilly came to Trimdon Writers Group, Darlington Media Workshop ran a photography and silkscreen course and Sue co-ordintated the Different Lives exhibition.
1995 Unleashed - Images and Experiences of Disability. Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle.
Launch event with songs and comedy from Invisible cabaret. Exhibiting artists included Keith Ashton, Vanessa Cecil, Steve Cribb, Matthew Durran, Gill Gerhardi, Eddy Hardy, Tony Heaton, Jenny Polak, Tanya Raabe, Simon Smith, Val Stein, David Swift, Ann Whitehurst and Nancy Willis.
Launch event with songs and comedy from Invisible cabaret. Exhibiting artists included Keith Ashton, Vanessa Cecil, Steve Cribb, Matthew Durran, Gill Gerhardi, Eddy Hardy, Tony Heaton, Jenny Polak, Tanya Raabe, Simon Smith, Val Stein, David Swift, Ann Whitehurst and Nancy Willis.
1995 Mass Observation Project. NorDAF.
The first of its kind in the region. 300 disposable cameras were distributed to disabled people to capture their lives in one day. 240 cameras were returned and the photographs exhibited at The Peoples' Gallery at The Discovery Museum.
The first of its kind in the region. 300 disposable cameras were distributed to disabled people to capture their lives in one day. 240 cameras were returned and the photographs exhibited at The Peoples' Gallery at The Discovery Museum.
1996 first Deaf Arts Officer, Janet Tucker, appointed at NorDAF who went on to lead the Deaf Youth Theatre.
1996 - Two Disability Cabarets. NorDAF. Spennymoor and Newcastle.
Artists included Tom Shakespeare, Karen and Neill raftery, Get Off Our Backs, Moving On, Invisible Cabaret and others.
Artists included Tom Shakespeare, Karen and Neill raftery, Get Off Our Backs, Moving On, Invisible Cabaret and others.
1997 'Deaf Dimensions' photography was exhibited at Cramlington Library showcasing the work of seven young Deaf artists produced at workshops run partly by NorDAF
1997 Panorama of Arts: Disability Festival. Cleveland Disability Arts Forum (later Open Arts)
They produced a quarterly newsletter called What's On. They organised Panorama of Arts: Disability Festival '97 which was a two week festival across Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland including workshops and cabarets.
They produced a quarterly newsletter called What's On. They organised Panorama of Arts: Disability Festival '97 which was a two week festival across Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland including workshops and cabarets.
1997 Putting 'Heart 'n' Soul' into the North supported by Ian Stanton and Out of Redcar Mind. Cramlington.
1998 Deaf Arts North - Cleveland Arts and NorDAF Collaboration
An event was held at Live Theatre in March 1998 which consisted of workshops, performances, discussions and demonstrations of the skills of Deaf artists.
An event was held at Live Theatre in March 1998 which consisted of workshops, performances, discussions and demonstrations of the skills of Deaf artists.
1998 Beyond Reason Project and Exhibition
A joint project between artist Aidan Shingler, NorDAF and Northern Mind. Aidan took the viewer directly into his reality. The exhibition got a lot of press coverage and positive feedback.
A joint project between artist Aidan Shingler, NorDAF and Northern Mind. Aidan took the viewer directly into his reality. The exhibition got a lot of press coverage and positive feedback.
1998 A Disability Arts Conference at Gateshead Civic Centre
Colin Cameron, then manager of TDA, delivered a keynote speech on Disability Arts as Popular Culture
Colin Cameron, then manager of TDA, delivered a keynote speech on Disability Arts as Popular Culture
1998 Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre with founding member Denise Armstrong from the North east. Premiered their production of Distant Sisters at Live Theatre.
It was about Freida Kahlo and Marilyn Monroe meeting. The company worked with Newcastle Deaf Drama Group for two weeks to develop their own performance.
It was about Freida Kahlo and Marilyn Monroe meeting. The company worked with Newcastle Deaf Drama Group for two weeks to develop their own performance.
1999 The Lawnmowers premier their film The Right Wrong at Tyneside Cinema
1999 Joyful Noise, The Fugertivs
The band's first album released - many of the tracks tell the stories of disabled people and many remain anthems today.
The band's first album released - many of the tracks tell the stories of disabled people and many remain anthems today.
