@bigkevwalsh.bsky.social
Executive Director & Joint CEO at Graeae. Theatre, music, books, art - I soak it all up but don't ask me to make any of it. Fired up by social justice and disability rights. Expert at surrounding myself with good people.
NEW TRAILER - Bad Lads
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"The writing was fierce, poetic, jarring and raw" Theatre & Tonic
On tour:
23 - 25 Oct Tobacco Factory Theatres
5 - 6 Nov Unity Liverpool
7 - 8 Nov Derby Theatre
11 - 12 Nov Warwick Arts Centre
14 - 15 Nov ARC Stockton
Trailer: Round One Films
shorturl.at/D2Igf
Gabby! I meant to say how much I loved this. It is such a joy to see your writing go from strength to strength. I've got a few books backed up but your next one is on the list. xxx
15.10.2025 12:03 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Purple background. Text reads, Join our team. General Manager -Maternity Cover. Deadline 20 October. Below is an image of young people smiling and cheering on stage of our show The Festival of Rights.
We're looking for a General Manager - Maternity Cover to join our team until Oct 2026.
This is a wide-ranging, thrilling job in a vibrant, creative office and is perfect for someone with a passion for theatre, a well-run system, equality & advocacy.
Apply by Mon 20 Oct: graeae.org/recruitment/
Cast members lay down, two on the floor and one behind on a table as they look up to the ceiling. Text reads 4 stars unapologetically campaigning theatre, demanding justice and accountability. The Guardian
2 cast members sit on seats whilst another stands over them. Text reads 5 stars heartbreakingly hard to watch but urgently necessary. Northern arts review.
Cast members stand shoulder to shoulder under floodlights. 4 stars The stage, dares you not to look away.
One cast member puts his arm around another, he looks nervous with his eyes closed. Text reads, Raynor and Yorke have deeply electric acting chemistry. The spy in the stalls.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ “...unapologetically campaigning theatre, demanding justice and accountability." The Guardian
Thanks to @livetheatre.bsky.social for a brilliant opening of Bad Lads. Our tour continues to Theatre Royal Plymouth 15 - 18 October.
Book tickets here: theatreroyal.com/whats-on/bad...
Red background with an image of the outside of Graeae's building. Text reads we're recruiting. General Manager - Maternity Cover. Deadline 20 October 2025
We're recruiting for a General Manager - Maternity Cover.
A dynamic, exciting role in a vibrant, creative office. Perfect for someone who has a passion for theatre, organisation and champions equality, and advocacy.
Deadline: Monday 20 October.
Find out how to apply: graeae.org/recruitment/
📣▪️ REVIEW | BAD LADS at Live Theatre | UK Tour
🎭▪️ 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💬▪️ "powerful, understated, and captivating "
📖▪️ thespyinthestalls.com/2025/10/bad-lads/
📷▪️ Von Fox
👉▪️ @livetheatre.bsky.social @graeaetheatre.bsky.social
#️⃣▪️ #review #thespyinthestalls #BadLads #theatre #drama
★★★★ Review: Bad Lads – Searing examination of abuse of power.
Read The Stage's review 👇
Dr Sue O’Rourke, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, explains her involvement with #BadLads our upcoming production with @graeaetheatre.bsky.social that gives a voice to those that suffered physical & sexual abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre, Durham.
Read the article at tinyurl.com/26ejkk38
Three images, one outside of Graeae, one in the foyer highlighting a large e in the arched window and a living room with sofa and chairs. Text reads on a red background Open House Festival, Sunday 14 September 11am to 4pm.
Discover Bradbury Studios, home to Graeae at the Open House Festival!
Join us for a tour throughout the day on Sunday 14 September between 11am – 4pm and find out more about the building and what we do.
More details here: programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/13268
#OpenHouseFestival2025
🚨NEWS🚨
Mapped: The worst-hit areas for PIP cuts as more than 1.3m could lose support under Labour’s plans
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
I'd really recommend you go see The Walrus Has A Right To Adventure @liveveryplay.bsky.social. It is so good.
Unlike anything I've quite seen before but instantly accessible. You relax into the performances in a heartbeat, which is pretty extraordinary considering how much they have to do. Go see!
We're delighted to announce our new show BAD LADS, created from the testimonies of the Medomsley boys. A new play by Mike Kenny, directed by Jenny Sealey. A Graeae production in association with Live Theatre touring nationally this autumn.
Details and tour dates below!
graeae.org/event/bad-la...
Labour is taking the Pip – and disabled people have had enough | Cherylee Houston
27.05.2025 05:32 — 👍 123 🔁 35 💬 5 📌 6
More than 100 of the UK’s most high-profile disabled people urge the Prime Minister to abandon the “inhumane and catastrophic plans to cut disability benefits”.
My exclusive: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
A photo of Jess Thom, a white, wheelchair using woman looking into the camera with a serious expression. She is wearing a blue and green hoodie, black padded gloves and is pictured in from of a brick wall
I’m profoundly sad to say that as of today, I’ll no longer be able to do my job as co-artistic director of #Touretteshero because of a recent decision by #AccessToWork to cut my support by 61%. Read & share this post, the hardest I've had to write: www.touretteshero.com/2025/05/23/a... 1/4
23.05.2025 07:43 — 👍 260 🔁 193 💬 19 📌 80
Disabled creatives have warned that planned changes to disability benefits will permanently prevent them from working in theatre 👇
23.05.2025 11:27 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1
Beige background with Graeae logo in red. Text reads, We Are Working - Allow Us To Continue
We have released a statement on the impact of recent proposed policy changes & benefits reform within the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper.
graeae.org/resource/gra...
Our community cannot & should not take this further assault on civil liberties!
The UK’s disability art scene is a source of international pride. At Graeae, we have been “getting disabled people into work” since 1980. 👇
graeae.org/resource/gra...
Patrick Butler and Josh Halliday (The Guardian) uncovered how vulnerable British carers were taken to court for accidentally claiming carer’s allowance while working part-time – even though many had tried to report their earnings to the Department of Work and Pensions.
15.05.2025 17:08 — 👍 117 🔁 38 💬 4 📌 6I urge you to go and see A Small Enclosed Room With Alfie Murphy by @aaaprods.bsky.social when it comes to your area. It's proper good stuff. And it is coming to @storyhouselive.bsky.social - my home town!
15.05.2025 08:32 — 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 1
Disability and Migration Network Response to Care Worker Visa Announcement “When Disabled people are able to access care and support, this is often from migrant care workers, whose skills and essential role in social care have been devalued and invalidated by both the government and the media. The government’s dangerous and inflammatory announcement further normalises far-right politics, while distracting from the repeated failure of successive governments to progress meaningful reform, or to reverse the widespread profiteering in England’s predominantly privatised social care sector.” Disability and Migration Network logo underneath
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
Disability and Migration Network respond to Government plans to axe the care worker visa - a dangerous distraction from decades of decaying social care at the hands of government policies.
Read our full statement here👇 www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/disabil...
A statement from Graeae.
Graeae stands in solidarity with trans and non-binary people and remains committed to creating safe and inclusive spaces for all.
Read full statement below.
graeae.org/resource/gra...
12.05.2025 17:11 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
We can't believe it's been a year since we released our BSL/Captioned version of Jenny Sealey’s Desert Island Discs and we still can't get enough of it!
Have you ever wondered which book, luxury item, and eight tracks Jenny Sealey would take to a desert island? 👇
graeae.org/resource/des...
Graphic showing Jo and Chris, a couple. Neither are in work Jo cares for Chris who is living with a disability They claim UC after April 2016 and receive the LCWRA and carer elements, and Chris receives PIP They could lose £10,300.
How could changes to benefits affect households?
28.03.2025 13:01 — 👍 4 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Cream background, red Graeae logo. Black text reads, An open letter in regard to proposed resource cuts.
We are opposed to the government’s announcement of more cuts and freezes to resources that support Deaf, Disabled, neurodivergent, chronically ill people, and those with lived experience of mental health to live equitably in UK society.
Check out our open letter here: tinyurl.com/2wb2bbhb
Chart showing estimated annual impact of the confirmed changed to PIP and UC by income vigintile
More than two-thirds of the confirmed welfare cuts will fall on the poorest half of the country.
26.03.2025 17:15 — 👍 8 🔁 18 💬 2 📌 1
Some disabled people could lose £10k a year in benefits by end of decade under Labour’s reforms. The planned cuts will deliver a series of “painful income shocks”, with families facing losing multiple entitlements at once
Me & @patrickjbutler.bsky.social report www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Red background with white text that reads Graeae we're looking for a Finance Manager
Join our team in Hoxton!
If you are a finance professional with accountancy qualifications or significant financial management experience and with an interest in theatre, this may be an opportunity for you.
Deadline: Monday 10 Feb.
Apply here: graeae.org/job/finance-...
Bright pink and black background. Text reads Graeae's New Writing Festival. Three new short plays by Madeleine Farnhill, Jordon Grant and Jesse Stone.
We're super excited to be showcasing three specially commissioned short plays at our New Writing Festival.
Directed by Jenny Sealey & Nickie Miles-Wildin. Check out the writers and their plays and book your ticket!
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 January at Rich Mix.
graeae.org/project/new-...
