Sabir, a South Asian young man, is looking very seriously at the camera and, is dressed as the ‘Evil Butterfly’, wearing a black cap with antenna and a pink cape with black details to look like the markings on a butterfly. Nathaniel, a young black man, is behind him, wearing a teal tracksuit top and a white baseball cap with black panda ears, which reads ‘pardy’. They are both stood in front of a brick wall, covered in graffiti.

BEAT-FLYS

BLINK Dance Theatre and BAC Beatbox Academy

22 - 23 Oct

This event has now passed

Information

Times: 11am, 1:30pm

Tickets: Free

Running Time: 60 mins (no interval)

Age Recommendation: 16+

This event takes place in person in our Council Chamber

Please note: BEAT-FLYS has a limited capacity of 12 participants and 12 access companions/carers per show. If you have any further questions on booking or specific requirements for your group’s visit – please email boxoffice@bac.org.uk.

BLINK Dance Theatre and BAC Beatbox Academy present BEAT-FLYS; a fresh new sensory and immersive show for adults with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities.

Written, devised and co-directed by neurodivergent BLINK artist Sabir Abdul, in collaboration with BLINK co-director Rachel Gildea, BEAT-FLYS invites the audience to take on the main character role on a fantastical journey.

Pushed out of Bow, East London, you’ll meet the Evil Butterfly, be rescued by an Angel Old Woman, warm up with the Love Dragon and celebrate with the Party Panda while you try to find your way home.

With an exciting soundtrack provided by BAC Beatbox Academy, BEAT-FLYS is a unique sensory experience that will delight audiences.

‘It is what performance should be, and it knocks the spots off anything now on in London’s West End’ Community Living Magazine on Elvis Died of Burgers

‘A multi-sensory extravaganza’ The Havering Daily on FOODAHOLIX

Credits

Performers

Sabir Abdul
Vicki Hawkins
Siobhán Wedgeworth
Aisha Edwards
Delson Weekes
Greg Baxter
Josh Grey-Jung

Beatboxers

Nadine-Rose Johnson
Tyler Worthington
Nathaniel Forder-Staple

Production Team

Stage Manager Zoe Dowler
Rehearsal Director Laura Day
Designer Hazel Mcintosh
Lighting Designer Carly Altberg

Artistic Director (BAC Beatbox Academy) Conrad Murray
Co-director (BLINK Dance) Francis Majekodunmi
Co-director (BLINK Dance) Rachel Gildea

Biographies

BLINK Dance Theatre

BLINK Dance Theatre are a neurodiverse-led, relentlessly inclusive arts organisation committed to tackling ableism by building bridges between inner-city popular culture and learning disability culture. BLINK are led by co-directors Delson Weekes, Vicki Hawkins, Francis Majekodunmi and Rachel Gildea. We exist to share our vision of a world without barriers by embracing difference as a catalyst for wild creativity, honest dance-theatre, and authentic partnerships. Our work is socially aware, alert and accountable to issues and trends affecting inner city London, Learning Disabled and Black culture. We combine our love of urban-core aesthetic, playful, interactive design and humour to dig into universal themes, with an aim to create greater understanding between people existing within and outside the inclusive arts subculture.

BLINK Dance Theatre are a National Portfolio Organisation for Arts Council England 2023-26.

BAC Beatbox Academy

The BAC Beatbox Academy is where young people aged 11–29 can learn to beatbox, jam with other young musicians and make your own music – from hip hop and grime to R&B and dubstep. Artistic Director Conrad Murray has led the BAC Beatbox Academy since 2008. The Beatbox Academy created the production ‘Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster‘ in 2016 which received 5 star reviews in the Observer and The Stage, and Off-West End winning production ‘Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Family Musical‘ in 2023. The Academy meet at Battersea Arts Centre and welcome all skill levels.

Access

PRE EVENT INFORMATION

This event takes place in person in our Council Chamber. This space is on the first floor, with step-free access via a lift.

If you have booked a ticket you will receive an email from us before your performance detailing important information about your visit.

PERSONAL ASSISTANT/COMPANION TICKETS

If you require the assistance of a friend or helper to attend, we can make a free ticket available for your companion. You can book access companion tickets online or contact the Box Office to book by emailing access@bac.org.uk.

To book a free access companion online:

log in to your account here
go to ‘Other preferences’ and tick ‘I require a personal assistant/companion’.
Choose the performance, date and seats you would like and if you add at least 2 tickets to your basket, then one of these will automatically become free.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Content

Flashing lights
Haze
Moments of darkness
Loud music and sounds

Allergens

Food, drink and sensory props are used during the show and offered to audiences. These have no known allergens but please contact zoe@blinkdancetheatre.org if you have any allergy concerns.

Pre-Show Information

BEAT-FLYS Social Story

All performances will be Relaxed. We invite you to make yourself comfortable and move around if you need to and if you need to leave the performance at any point you will be allowed to return to the space when you feel ready.

VISIT OUR ACCESS PAGE