Bristol theatre company pledges to be a 'home for all'
An amateur dramatics group started in 2019 by a husband and wife team says it wants more people with disabilities to try acting.Richard Prior, who has muscular dystrophy, founded The Whodunnit Theatre Company with his wife Kayley and said performing "changed his life".Mr Prior said the Bristol group is a "home for all" regardless of acting experience or ability and that it can be "off-putting" to join a new group especially when you have additional needs.The company is currently rehearsing their annual play for 2025, Blackadder II, for which they received special permission from the original screenwriter, Richard Curtis.
Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy aged nine, Mr Prior said drama has given him "hope and enjoyment in life".He will be playing the role of Lord Percy in this years production and said "I'm going to be dressed very brightly and with my limp I need a cane."Its going to be worth the ticket money alone to see me dressed as him".Mr Prior said "we want to give everybody an opportunity" adding "performance is important but we're friends and we have a laugh and that's the most important thing".
Adam Elms has previously worked as a professional actor and will lead the performance as Edmund Blackadder in this years show.He has been partially-sighted since birth and is almost blind in one eye with 35% vision in the other.Mr Elms said "after a certain time of night my eyes don't work well" adding the company has been "brilliant" at providing what he needs.Excited about the forthcoming performance he said "I said yes immediately" when offered his role, adding Rowan Atkinson - who played Blackadder in the popular sitcom - is a "comic hero" to him.
Weekly rehearsals have been ongoing since March but before they could start Mr Prior had to get permission from British comedy screenwriter, Richard Curtis, who wrote Blackadder.Mr Prior said: "You have to drop an email to Mr Curtis and speak to his agent."They've been wonderfully accepting and amenable to us".The company's production of Blackadder II will be at the Warmley Community Centre from 12 to 14 June.
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