TW: FAKE BLOOD
I, Lou Davis, a disabled and English born and bred actor and director who strives for equality and accurate representation through both the production and performance of art, have five (5) years under my belt in the performance industry. Working on an academic level from both a directorial and acting perspective on a variety or pieces across contemporary, classical, acting, and musicals.
During my time working within the industry, I have worked on projects such as; Sweet Transvestite from The Rocky Horror Picture Show for a section in my college showcase, Schizophrenia from Love and Information by Caryl Churchill in a directorial role, Baggy Trousers from Madness: The musical a super exciting and exhillerating musical number, as well as exploring: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), and several extracts from One Million Tiny Plays About Britain by Craig Taylor.
I have also worked alongside ATACC as a volunteer, a company which specialises in the training of first responders through the use of live casualties in dangerous situations such as hemorrhages or collapsed buildings in which they may be called out to, providing valuable teaching moments that promote the release of adrenaline and fast-thinking for both it's actors and students, an experience that I can safely say has so far been my favourite, and one that I will always remember. Particularly catching a cold in a bloody bath tub ;)
However, an important part of my life revolves around my condition, Muscular Dystrophy. As something that has always been apart of me I find it hard to comprehend how little accurate representation myself, and other disabled people have in the media considering that we make up 14.1 million of the British population and are the largest minority in the UK. Therefor I consider an important part of my career journey challenging this embedded practise in the industry and giving people the representation they deserve, as well as something that I compassionately embrace as a valuable insight not only for myself, but for audiences disabled or not.
(Photos provided by/taken by Adam Slepowronski, Lou Davis, Poppy Hrothgar accordingly)
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