Netflix has announced a two year funding commitment for the ‘Performance Making diploma’ – a course designed for and by learning disabled and autistic creatives at a major drama school.  The diploma is led by Access All Areas and  co-delivered with The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.

Anne Mensah, VP of Content, UK at Netflix said: “Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creators are some of the least represented groups on television in the UK. Put simply, we want to change that. Supporting the Performance Making Diploma is part of our ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive creative industry.  We’re incredibly proud to support Access All Areas in this vital work, and can’t wait to see what this next generation of storytellers and creatives brings to the industry.”

The two year Performance Making diploma is designed to foster confidence, community and wellbeing, with 80 per cent of students reporting an increase in confidence, 75 per cent improved communication skills, and 70 per cent increased independence. All classes will be co-led by professional learning disabled and/or autistic creatives, ensuring authenticity and practical insight.

Charlene Salter, AAA co-chairperson and Diploma Graduate, said: “I really cherished doing the Diploma because it made me grow as an artist and a person. It made me more confident in myself than before, because I always was quiet and I never really spoke up. But doing the Diploma I learned to embrace who I am. To embrace my disability and be empowered by it. Now, I want to be a role model for learning disabled and autistic artists. We are so capable. All we need is a little help and we can do it… For all of us and our company, I’m so delighted that Netflix is partnering with us for the Diploma. They want new talent. Now, they’ve got somewhere to go to employ learning disabled and autistic talent. It’s so important right now because it’s really lacking. Thanks to them, loads of new shining stars will grow and grow and grow”

Since the diploma launched in 2013, 79 per cent of graduates have gone on to professional creative work, with over 180 roles secured including collaborating on scripts with companies including Sky Studios and BBC1, and performing in EastEnders (BBC), Holby City (BBC), Call the Midwife (BBC), Damned (C4), The Level (ITV), Grace (ITV) and with theatres including National Theatre, Old Vic, Royal Court, The Lowry and many more.

Mairi Hayes, Head of Short Course Programmes at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, added: “Central is delighted to have co-delivered and hosted the Performance Making diploma with Access All Areas since 2013. Providing equitable, professional training opportunities and access routes into industry is at the heart of what we do, and the incredible successes the course’s graduates have had over many years speak to its impact. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of applying to do it – you’ll meet amazing people and will learn, grow and develop as an artist and practitioner.”

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Categories: Articles, Content, Funding, Production

Tags: netflix, production, theatre