The show must go on: new venue confirmed for disability group’s performance
A new Northampton venue has been confirmed for a popular annual disability show after dangerous materials were discovered in the original space.
The Cube Disability, an arts academy which opened for adults with learning disabilities in 2017, were robbed of performing their annual show at the Royal and Derngate in Northampton due to Raac concrete being discovered in the foyer.
Raac concrete has recently been discovered to be extremely dangerous as various schools across England have been shut down due to risks of the establishments falling down and harming pupils.
Once the concrete was found in the Royal and Derngate the theatre said it had no alternative but to close its doors earlier this month.
As it stands a temporary box office has been set up in John Franklin’s Bar on Guildhall Road, and some of the administration and backstage staff have been able to return to work.
However, the Deco Theatre in Abington Square has now agreed to host the show on 20th September giving people a chance to rightfully showcase their talent.
Speaking to the BBC, Tom Stevenson from The Cube Disability, said closing the original theatre was a ‘big disappointment’, but claimed when the new theatre provided the company with a stage, performers were ‘over the moon’.
Mr Stevenson said: [The Deco] have been so helpful, so accommodating with everything they have done for us.’
According to research from Learning Disability Today, anxiety disorders have been reported as one of the most common forms of psychological distress for people with learning disabilities, however being given a platform to do something they love could be a way around this.
Image: Elijah Ekdahl