Examples of work
ABC & Creative Access
ABC has been intentional in choosing our delivery partners & consultants for Pajoma Collective, ensuring they reflect the communities we wish to reach. Our consultants are D&D-led organisations with vast experience providing creative access - weaving access into their work as an integral part of the creative process rather than as an ‘add on’.
ABC Founder/Director, Amanda Bright (neé Amanda Wright), is an ADA-qualified AD with nearly 20 years experience writing Film, TV, and Theatre AD. Her clients have included Soho Theatre, ATG Theatres, Disney+, and Sony. In 2023, Amanda was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells to AD 4 films for their ‘Young Associates’ programme and, in 2022, 16 films in the ‘Well Seasoned’ programme spotlighting Black creatives.
The Government Inspector
Amanda was praised for her creative AD within the Ramps on the Moon 2016 Olivier-nominated production, ‘The Government Inspector’. Onstage for the entire show, Amanda delivered AD and interacted with other onstage characters. Her creative approach was well-received by blind and visually-impaired patrons, as well as her AD peers.
The trailer below shows extracts of the integrated production, with a mixture of d/Deaf, disabled and non-disabled performers - including Amanda. This energy, vibrancy and creative access is what we aim to explore within Pajoma/Collective:
Creative Audio Description
Amanda also took a unique approach to the introductory notes which were made available to blind/visually-impaired patrons before the performance.
Instead of the traditional objective description of the characters, set and costumes, Amanda worked with the creative team at Birmingham Rep Theatre to create a soundscape which would immerse listeners in the small village where the action of the play took place. Amanda’s character then led the listener on a ‘walking tour’ of the village, introducing them to other characters they met along the way - using both objective and subjective descriptions of the characters and also giving the characters a chance to say a few words of introduction to the visitors to their village.
This new and creative approach to audio description was extremely well-received by blind/visually-impaired patrons as well as her peers in the audio description community. Leading providers of AD in the UK, Vocaleyes, interviewed Amanda about her process on working on Government Inspector:
Amanda Bright: Audio Description
ABC as Producers:
Amanda will take on the role of Pajoma/Collective Executive Producer and Project Leader. During this 16 week project, Amanda will support the PC collaborators at every stage, working behind the scenes - giving the platform to the creative team and young people involved to achieve the highest quality of work, and ensuring everyone is on the same page with PC’s mission. Responding decisively to challenges highlighted by the team, sourcing resources which allow the creative team to facilitate the project in the best possible way and ensuring that PC company voices are heard throughout the entire process.
This includes offering consultation for creatives during prep meetings, being a liaison for the External Examiner and all other collaborators. Supported by ABC infrastructures, Amanda will manage the budget, staff training and some administrative duties e.g. drawing up contracts for creatives, keeping project timeline / milestones on course and ensuring the participants' experience is as accessible as possible. Alongside our community projects, ABC have produced theatre, film and photography exhibitions. Here are some examples of ABC productions:
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Windrush arrival in the UK, Arts Bridge Charity partnered with photographer Steve Bright and Bernie Grant Arts Centre to create a series of portraits of people who emigrated from the Caribbean to the UK in the 1950’s and ‘60’s - the Windrush Generation.
They were invited to move to the UK by the British government to fill a post war labour shortage, came to the UK full of hope and subsequently made lives and raised families in this country despite the racism and persecution they often faced.
This project was a response to the Queen’s platinum jubilee and an exploration of what a true Queen looks like. Featuring a diverse, multi-generational selection of Black British ‘Queens’ from our local area of Tottenham, London, QUEENS aims to shine a spotlight on the Black British experience within a country reigned by a monarch that doesn’t look like them, represents a status quo that is often harmful to them, and whose life and experiences feel a world away from our own.
QUEENS also explores how creative expression allows us to see someone’s innate regality, using a creative mix of traditional regal elements such as swords and crowns, inspired by paintings of British Monarchs from the past, with African and Afro-futuristic elements that reflect the heritage and history of the participants.
Amanda is passionate about ABC’s work and has a ‘grassroots’ approach to leadership. She will support the industry professionals to guide the young creatives through techniques and practices to bring their stories to life and develop creative responses that will form the final performance piece. Amanda will also bring her years of experience as a qualified audio describer and a BSL user to support the young creatives in exploring creative access.
ABC are also working with Haringey creatives, the majority of whom are of Caribbean or African origin, reflecting the demographics of the London borough. ABC has nurtured strong relationships within the communities we work with and are committed to providing career progression opportunities and professional development for artists from underrepresented groups.