'REVOLUTIONISING THE DEFINITION OF DANCE'
/ SCHöN MAGAZINE /
Culture Device is a catalyst for artistic excellence. We choreograph, produce and promote social-cultural events across the UK and overseas. Established in 2010, we have delivered over 15 projects with exceptional artists with Down’s Syndrome (DS), reaching over 12.5 million people.
Our most recent project is a dance residency at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden creating a 2 parts ballet with live score, performed by award winning artists with Down Syndrome. Culture Device is in partnership with Hackney Showroom, developing a new version of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.
Culture Device Dance Project is an innovative dance company for professional dancers with DS. We use improvisation and experimental electronic sound to push the boundaries of choreography, whilst giving a professional platform for performers with DS. Drag Syndrome is our project showcasing performance by drag queens and kings with DS which enjoys huge press coverage.
The company is using improvisation techniques and use both classical and experimental performance styles and aim to push boundaries in the fields of new choreography and to give professional, artistic and creative platform for dancers with Down’s Syndrome.
The troupe are currently touring across the UK and abroad. We have performed across the UK and internationally, including Wilderness Festival, Truck Festival, Sink the Pink, Duckie, London Pride, Alternative Miss World Awards, The Glove That Fits,Notting Hill Carnival, The Place, Yard Theatre, Photographers Gallery, Ulster Hall, Multikids Inclusive Academy, Chisenhale Dance Space, Hackney Showroom, Bonn Museum of Modern Art. Recent press coverage includes features in Vogue, Pink News, 55 Pages, The Beckett and Hungry Eye journals. We have been endorsed by artists and companies including Jess Thom, William Forsythe, Told By An Idiot, Complicite & Peter Marinker.
'Look this company up, they’re onto a winner'
/ Lauren Fried /
"THE INTENSITY OF THEIR PERFORMANCE RADIATED PASSION."
/ GRAHAM WATTS OBE /
CURRENT DANCERS
Sarah GORDY MBE
Sarah is a British actress and a dance artist. She is best known for her portrayal of Lady Pamela Holland in the 2010 BBC TV series of Upstairs Downstairs.
Gordy gained her first main acting job on the ITV television series, Peak Practice. She subsequently landed other one-off TV roles. In 2006 she played the leading role in a touring theatre production, Seize the Day, with the Hijinx Theatre.
In summer 2010 Gordy was chosen for the role of Lady Pamela Holland in Carlton Television's new production of Upstairs Downstairs.
TOMMY JESSOP
Tommy is an accomplished actor, performer and dancer. Hw was featured in the award-winning BBC documentary Growing Up Down’s, nominated for an International Emmy: Best Documentary.
He has since filmed several feature films, taken the lead in various short films and played significant roles on television and radio; Casualty, Holby City and Monroe, Doctors, Off their Rockers, and played the lead or guest lead in various afternoon plays on Radio 4.
Jessop is a founder member of Blue Apple Theatre. In 2010 he played Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 2011, he was the Mayor in Gogol's The Government Inspector. In May 2012, Jessop made history when he became the first professional actor with Down Syndrome to play the title role of Hamlet in a production which toured to theatres across the south. In March and April 2013, Tommy played the role of Bobby, a victim of hate crime in Living Without Fear, Blue Apple Theatre's touring production about disability hate crime. In 2014 he played M Paillardin in an adaptation of Feydeau’s The Hotel du Paradis. He recently returned from playing Don Pedro in a touring production of Much Ado About Nothing 2015.
HOLLY RISEBOROUGH
"Holly is a Gold Medal winning Elite Artistic Gymnast who competes nationally and internationally, having represented Great Britain at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Holly is currently studying Performing Arts at Coventry College. She has performed in several devised productions for Ego Performance and has had supporting artist roles in Midsomer Murders and Doctors. Holly has also had appearances on the BBC2 Victoria Derbyshire programme for various topical issues.
OTTO BAXTER
Otto is a performer, actor and a film maker.
Winner, best actor at Cannes ‘Festival Entr’2 Marches’ 2014 for ‘Ups & Downs’
Nominated for best actor at the Van d’Or independent film awards 2014, for ‘Ups & Downs’
Best Film of the Year at RADAR People of the Year (Human Rights) Awards
Winner Dodie Spittal Award 2013 at Picture This Film Festival
Sam Barnard
Sam has completed the prestigious Staging change course for learning disabled actors coordinated by Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Sam is feature on many TV, film and stage productions:
The Inbetweeners, Eastenders, The Undateables, Casualty, Grantchester, Nothing Great is Easy and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher – The Murder in Angel Lane”.
He joined Culture Device Dance Project in 2017.
Rishard Smith
Rishard trained at Central School Of Speech and Drama. Rishard has performed in multiple productions for Ego Performance Company and Imagineer Productions. He can also be seen on screen in Paul Abbott's 'No Offence' and Katie McLeary's 'Silent but Deadly'.
PAST DANCERS:
John Livingston
John is a dance artist, a founding member of Dance Inclusion, founding member of C2 (CandoCo Youth Dance Company) with years of experience as a dancer and performer John has worked as a graduate assistant on a training day for tutors at Urdang Academy and other musical theatre schools and a residential placement working three days per week in Banbury with Anjali Dance.
