Stephen Unwin: Theatre Over The Decades, What Disability Teaches Us

Ben Yeoh Chats

Steve Uwin is a theatre director and writer. Amongst many accomplishments he has been the artistic director of the Rose theatre, founder of ETT, English Touring Theatre. He is also chair of the charity Kids, which provides services to children with disabilities.

We speak about whether we need language to be human and what non-verbal people teach us.

We chat on how theatre has developed over the decades and Steve’s appreciation of Brecht and the Berliner Ensemble. We touch on Steve’s experience of theTraverse theatre, dealing with the very different stakeholders of the Rose Theatre; and how European theatre, realism and London has influenced theatre over the decades; what’s enjoyable about theatre over film.

Steve discusses how much of liberal progressive thinking may overlook the history and challenges of disability. While contested, we chat about the possible roots of this in the 18th century enlightenment and its influences today. We talk about the importance of self-advocacy but also the challenges of self-advocacy if you are - for instance - non-verbal.

Steve talks about going viral on Twitter around “mock gloom” and disability. He also provocatively suggests five of the greatest artists of the last century.

We comment on:

Bob Dylan

The artist Piero della Francesca

And what he has in his library of thousands of books

And finish with his current projects and life advice Steve has.

To let you know… The audio is a little crackly on Steve’s side. Apologies in advance.

It’s still listenable, but there’s also a transcript if easier, here. Enjoy. Thanks.