Blue Apple Theatre

Blue Apple Theatre is an award-winning inclusive theatre company based in Winchester, England. It was founded in 2005 by Jane Jessop to pioneer the inclusion of actors with intellectual disabilities on mainstream stages. In May 2012, six Blue Apple actors made history by touring a ground-breaking re-imagining of William Shakespeare's Hamlet around the South of England. They were the first actors with Down Syndrome to perform the play professionally.in 2016 the company made history again with 5 performers, four of whom have Down's syndrome performing scenes from Shakespeare on stage in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London..

In June 2012, Blue Apple Theatre was named as the 1000th winner of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the great efforts of its voluntary staff.

Blue Apple was founded in 2005 by Jane Jessop to provide opportunities for people with a wide range of learning difficulties to participate in high quality theatre and dance opportunities. Her aim was to enable them to discover and explore their talents on and off stage and to challenge expectations, with no ceiling on the opportunities given to them or on our expectations of them. She was inspired by the experience of her son Tommy Jessop who was acting with the BBC. Over 50 people came to each of the pilot workshops and Blue Apple has had a waiting list ever since.

Jane Jessop led the company for over ten years during which time Blue Apple won several awards, gained Arts Council funding, developed a film programme and broke through many barriers, enabling Blue Apple's performers to work in a professional environment, bring celebrated performances to mainstream theatres, and attract audiences of several thousand to touring productions. Jane's final project was a tenth birthday performance event on stage at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

Blue Apple now delivers over 400 drama and dance workshops a year for over 70 members, in addition to two professional theatre shows and one touring production each year. the company attracts audiences from all over England and has become respected as a leading producer of theatre and dance by performers who have disabilities.

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