Ramps on the Moon Biography

Ramps on the Moonis an award-winning Arts Council funded collaborative theatre network that comprises six founding partners: New Wolsey Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham REP, Nottingham Playhouse, Theatre Royal Stratford East and Sheffield Theatres.

Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme (RTYDS) and Wiltshire Creative are Associate Partners of the network.

Ramps on the Moon’s aim is to elevate and normalise the place of disabled, deaf and neurodiverse people in mainstream theatre, and the consortium partners are excited by seeing diversity as an engine for even greater creativity.

Ramps on the Moon’s accolades to date include an Olivier Award nomination for Birmingham REP’s production of The Government Inspector, the UK Theatre Award for Best Touring Production 2017 for The New Wolsey’s production of The Who’s Tommy, and the 2017 UK Theatre Promotion of Diversity Award to The New Wolsey for its work on Ramps on the Moon.

Their most recent co-production, Olivier Twist, with Leeds Playhouse is now available to stream through the National Theatre’s “National Theatre at Home” streaming service.

The Ramps on the Moon Twitter handle is @RampsOTM

Sheffield Theatres Biography

Home to three theatres: the Crucible, the Sheffield landmark with a world famous reputation; the Playhouse, an intimate, versatile space for getting closer to the action; and the gleaming Lyceum, the beautiful proscenium that hosts the best of the UK’s touring shows.

With a varied programme, Sheffield Theatres is the ticket to big names and local heroes, timeless treasures and new voices.

Committed to investing in the creative leaders of the future, the dedicated talent development hub, The Bank, supports a new cohort of emerging theatre-makers every year.

Named ‘Regional Theatre of the Year’ on four separate occasions, Sheffield Theatres has a reputation for bold new work. First staged in 2019, the multi award-winning, dazzling adaptation of Life of Pi opened in the West End in 2021.

The show followed new musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge, with music and lyrics by Mercury Prize nominated Richard Hawley. Having won the 2020 South Bank Sky Arts Award for theatre and Best Musical Production at the UK Theatre Awards, the musical returns in December, before transferring to the National Theatre in early 2023.

The phenomenal Sheffield musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie also started life at the Crucible in 2017, before transferring to the West End, embarking on a UK tour and being turned into a feature film.

The Chief Executive is Dan Bates

The Deputy Chief Executive is Bookey Oshin

The Artistic Director is Robert Hastie

The Sheffield Theatres Box Office number is 0114 249 6000

Sheffield Theatres Trust Ltd. Registered Number: 932254 Registered Charity: 257318.

New Wolsey Theatre Biography

The award-winning New Wolsey Theatrein Ipswich has a 400-seat main auditorium, a community participation space in its NW2 building, a contemporary Café & Bar, the largest youth theatre in the region and is nationally recognised for the quality, diversity and reach of its productions. The theatre produces its own work and collaborates with a diverse range of visiting artists and companies from across the UK.

As an NPO (National Portfolio Organisation), the New Wolsey is partly funded by Arts Council England, Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council, as well as supported by local businesses and a thriving membership scheme which together finance and support its vital role in producing new work and engaging with the local community.

The New Wolsey has always been a champion of making performing arts accessible to all. As a founder member of the ground-breaking Ramps on the Moon, the New Wolsey Theatre leads a consortium of six mid-sized mainstream theatres that strives to normalise the presence of deaf and disabled people on and off the stage. In 2017 the Theatre won the UK Theatre Award for the Promotion of Diversity.

The Chief Executive is Douglas Rintoul

The New Wolsey Theatre Box Office number is 01473 295900

New Wolsey Theatre Company Ltd. Registered Number: 03982202 Registered Charity: 1082016.

Birmingham Rep Biography

Birmingham Rep is the only producing theatre in the UK’s Second City.

The oldest building-based theatre company in the UK, The Rep has an unparalleled pioneering history and has been at the forefront of theatre in this country for over 100 years. It is a registered charity.

The Rep’s mission is to create artistically ambitious popular theatre for, by, and with the people of Birmingham and the wider world.

The commissioning and production of new work lies at the core of The Rep’s programme and over the last 15 years, the company has produced more than 130 new plays. As well as presenting over 60 productions on its three stages every year, the theatre tours its productions nationally and internationally.

The Artistic Director isSean Foley

The Executive Director is Rachael Thomas

The Birmingham Rep Box Office number is 0121 236 4455

Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Registered Number: 00295910 Registered Charity: 223660

Leeds Playhouse Biography

Leeds Playhouse has been welcoming audiences in the heart of Yorkshire for over 50 years. As a registered charity, the theatre creates pioneering and relevant work. The Playhouse recently underwent a £16m transformation, including improved access, a new entrance, and a new studio theatre.

A dedicated collaborator, Leeds Playhouse works with distinctive, original voices from across the UK. Its Artistic Development programme, Furnace, works with new and established theatre-makers, providing a creative space to refine their practice at all stages of their careers.

The sector-leading Creative Engagement team works with over 12,000 people every year, including refugees, young people, schools, older people, and people with learning disabilities. The Playhouse pioneered Relaxed Performances and Dementia-Friendly performances, which are becoming the industry norm.

The Artistic Director & CEO is James Brining

The Interim Executive Directors are Mark Dobson and Neil Murray

The Incoming Executive Director is Shawab Iqbal

The Leeds Playhouse Box Office number is 0113 213 7700

Leeds Theatre Trust Limited. Registered Number: 926862 Registered Charity: 255460

Nottingham Playhouse Biography

Nottingham Playhouse is dedicated to making bold and thrilling theatre in the heart of Nottingham and was named Regional Theatre of the Year in The Stage Awards 2019. In 2021, both Chief Executive Stephanie Sirr and Artistic Director Adam Penford featured in The Stage’s 100.

Autumn 2022 has seen a world premiere with Adrian Scarborough’s adaptation of Alan Bennett’s The Clothes They Stood Up In, as well as a new co-production of Nine Night, and culminates with the legendary Playhouse Panto which this year is Dick Whittington. 2023’s programme begins with two co-productions that will subsequently tour throughout the country: The Beekeeper of Aleppo and Samson Hawkins’s Village Idiot.

Nottingham Playhouse Trust Ltd relies on ticket sales for 70% of its income, and continues to fundraise through its Curtain Up appeal.

The Chief Executive is Stephanie Sirr

The Artistic Director is Adam Penford

The Nottingham Playhouse Box Office number is 0115 941 9419

Nottingham Playhouse Trust Ltd. Registered Number: 5384418 Registered Charity: 1109342

Theatre Royal Stratford East Biography

Stratford East champions talent and creates hard hitting, boundary pushing shows in the beating heart of East London.

They have been telling stories since 1884. Many leading actors, writers and directors have been part of the family including Meera Syal, Barbara Windsor, Don Warrington, Indhu Rubasingham, Tanika Gupta, Roy Williams and Cynthia Erivo.

With Artistic Director Nadia Fall at the helm, they present a bold programme of reimagined classics, timely revivals and ground-breaking new work.

The Artistic Director is Nadia Fall

The Executive Director is Eleanor Lang

The Theatre Royal Stratford East Box Office number is 020 8534 0310

Theatre Royal Stratford East. Registered Number: 556251 Registered Charity: 233801

Salisbury Playhouse and Wiltshire Creative Biography

Wiltshire Creative is a pan-arts organisation that brings together the energy and ambition of Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury International Arts Festival and Salisbury Playhouse.

Rooted in, and drawing inspiration from, the city of Salisbury, Wiltshire Creative works beyond its boundaries and draws audiences from across the county and further afield.

The creation of new work is at the heart of its programme, as it builds new relationships with audiences, artists and participants.

The Artistic Director is Gareth Machin

The Executive Director is Sebastian Warrack

The Salisbury Playhouse Box Office number is 01722 320333

Wiltshire Creative. Registered Number: 499076 Registered Charity: 249169