Big Hat Cabaret

The second year of this inspiring event was staged at the Arts Centre on the evening of 18th July. It was a fun-packed evening of music, dance, film and stand-up comedy performed by dynamic performers, some with disabilities. Over 40 performers entertained an audience of a hundred plus. Next year is soon to be in the calendar and promises yet more laughter, music and visual treats. 

The Compere for the evening was Kev Sutherland a stand up comedian and comic artist who performs nationally and internationally. If you haven't seen his TV shows The Sitcom Trials and the A-Z of Rude Health, you may have seen him at the Edinburgh Fringe or read his comic strips in The Beano. He is the comedy legend behind the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, and has been described by Metro as "pant-wettingly funny."

Click here to read India Collins-Davies report

A brief history...BIG HAT is an inclusive network currently combining Reach Inclusive Arts, Swindon Dance, Upham Road Day Centre, Commonweal and Crowdys Hill Schools.

The network arose out of the long-standing relationship between Swindon Dance, REACH Inclusive Arts and Upham Rd Day Centre. These three agencies have individually promoted arts inclusion for young and adult disabled people for many years and collaborated on projects including Moving for Change and the CandoCo Dance Residency promoted by Swindon Dance.

In 2006, the Dance and Disability network was formed; this became the BIG HAT Network in 2007, with the following aims:

1. Increasing access and inclusion to the arts for disable people
2. Providing opportunities for participation, including an annual Cabaret showcasing local and national performers
3. Providing opportunities for and information about training
4. To research and develop innovative evaluation methods
5. To raise awareness of dance, arts and disability achievements and issues through participation & discussion
6. To work with trail-blazing companies in the fields of dance, arts and disability to raise participation and aspirations.
7. To develop audiences for dance. arts and disability companies and artists

For further information on the BIG HAT network please contact:
Jim Brown at Swindon Dance 01793 601707 or Helen Whelehan at REACH Inclusive Arts 01793 520318.