Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists

Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists is our flagship training performing arts company for disabled and non-disabled 16 to 30-year-olds. The Dorset-based company create ambitious, experimental and thought-provoking work, which they perform across the UK. Alumni have moved on to companies like the National Centre for Circus Arts, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as Bird College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre.

 Photos © Pete Millson

In 2018, the company created and performed their first show, Becoming. In 2019 and 2020, we premiered Till We Win and worked virtually through the lockdowns. In 2021, we brought the show to The Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s For/With/By festival. In 2022, we performed it again at Lighthouse Poole, in tandem with Extraordinary Bodies’ show, Human, and at Brighton Festival.

A group of young disabled and non-disabled people grouped together in the centre of a dimly lit stage. They are all sitting or bending their bodies towards the ground, holding onto each other.
Becoming @ Will Clarke
Till We Win @ Ali Wright

About Till We Win

In a sleepy rural town, a group of young outsiders are living under a dark cloud. Determined not to allow its shadow to destroy the things they love, Till We Win is the story of their revolution. This devised performance combines anarchic theatre, film, circus, dance and original music. Live BSL interpretation, audio description and captions are included as integrated features of the show.Till We Win is the joyous story of people who often go unheard, making a big change to save the place they love.

Writer: Gemma Alldred and company
Director: Eilis Davis
Circus Director: Flora Alwen
Producer: Alice Chutter
Musical Director & Composer: Harry Bassett
Mixing Engineer & Music Advisor: Ben Jones

Technical Manager: Rowan Woodhouse
Designer: Sophie Fretwell
Digital Collaborator: biggerhouse film

Musicians: Keys and vocals by Harry Bassett, Strings by Roland Palmer, Guitar and Vocals by Kira Procter, Woodwind by Oleg Zaremskyi and Vocals by Megan Abbott

Join Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists

Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists members get to:

  • Train with professional artists working in circus, theatre, music and dance
  • Perform on stage in venues across the country
  • Receive Arts Award certifications
  • Be supported when applying for performing arts degrees, jobs and funding. We have helped young artists join companies such as the National Youth Theatre and Graeae Theatre, and receive Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grants.
A group of disabled and non-disabled young people and adults laughing together, outside a red brick building, interacting with one another.
A young integrated group of circus performers wear bright colours as they perform their show. A girl hangs from an aerial hoop whilst two others hold red aerial silks.

Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists meet on Thursday evenings at Lighthouse in Poole, or virtually on Zoom depending on government guidelines.

Click here to email us about joining the company

Current members

Joshua Ward
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Joshua Ward

Kira Procter
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Kira Procter

Shane Masterman
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Shane Masterman

Emily Cutler
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Emily Cutler

Clarissa Hustler
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Clarissa Hustler

Luke Davies
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Luke Davies

Jessica Skelton
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Jessica Skelton

Headshot of Harry. He is a white man in his twenties with short brown hair, black glasses and stubble beard. He is smiling brightly at the camera.
Harry Bassett
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Creative Team Member & Freelance Artist

Harry Bassett

Headshot of Harry. He is a white man in his twenties with short brown hair, black glasses and stubble beard. He is smiling brightly at the camera.
Joseph Lopez
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Joseph Lopez

Alice Saunders
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Alice Saunders

Hattie Alwen
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists Member

Hattie Alwen

Alumni

Dave Young
Alumni

Dave Young

Dave is a writer, theatre-maker, workshop facilitator and board member for Diverse City, and winner of the Alan Martin Award for his Contribution to Creative Arts, leading writing workshops at the 1Voice annual conferences for communication aid users. He is a commissioned artist who regularly performs poetry as well as designing and creating poetry inspired art installations at festivals across the south west, including Inside Out Dorset and Funky Llama Festival, Plymouth Theatre Royal. Dave is currently working as librettist for the ‘Planted Symphony’ project with Drake Music.

Dave’s first scripted theatre show ‘Grow Up and Just Love Chocolate’ received Arts Council England Funding for a team of crew, actors, set and sound design, and debuted at Salisbury Playhouse as part of Fest West 2019 and went on to a repeat performance at Lighthouse, Poole. Dave plans to return to working on the show with a producer in the near future and book further performances at venues across the UK.

Dave’s creative career began through attending The Remix, through which Dave performed in Breathe at the opening of the Olympics in Weymouth and travelled to Brazil to work with disability dance groups. Dave also performed his poetry at the opening of the Paralympic games as part of the ‘Seen but Seldom Heard’ project.

Beth Alsbury
Alumni

Beth Alsbury

I’m Beth, I’m from Frome in Somerset. I started working with Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists after participating in an Extraordinary Bodies creative explorations workshop in October 2017. I stayed with the youth company until August 2018 when I had to leave for university.
I fell in love with aerial circus, particularly static trapeze, and enjoyed challenging myself with new creative ways to use my body. I am currently studying BA Hons in Acting at RADA.
Rachel Oram
Alumni

Rachel Oram

Freya Garner

Freya Garner

Hugo Lucas-Rowe
Alumni

Hugo Lucas-Rowe

Rebecca Gear
Alumni

Rebecca Gear

Becca joined the EBYA family in 2015 and began her circus journey, creating ensemble work that included theatre, movement and aerial. She also got the opportunity to travel to Bosnia with EBYA and teach her skills to others, along the way learning many new ones, such as parkour. Thanks to EBYA, she is now a National Centre for Circus Arts graduate in dance trapeze. She also has a love for acrobatics, handstands, movement and much more.

Anthony Pereira
Alumni

Anthony Pereira