Democracy doesn't work when people don't know  Upgrade to paid

ON OUR RADAR

Squeeze Box

An immersive installation for and about the disabled experience.

Leigh Curtis

An immersive installation for and about the disabled experience, is coming to Maketank on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 October.

Squeeze Box is an experimental, interactive work which explores the impact of social care cuts. It employs live performance, soundscapes and video projection to convey the almost out-of-body experience of going through social care needs assessment.

Audiences are invited to drop in from midday onwards to take part in the installation, engage with the artist or just spectate. Each afternoon culminates in a performance beginning at 6pm after which discussion on the themes explored in the work takes place.

A British Sign Language interpreter will be present throughout and audience descriptions will be available for the evening performance.

Squeeze Box Friday 6 & Saturday 7 October 2023 at Maketank Squeeze Box. Image: SouthWest Theatre Photography.

Hugh Malyon, a south west-based artist who uses his lived experience of disability to create digital media, theatre and performance work, is the production’s lead artist and central storyteller.

He is the recipient of residencies and bursaries from RADA, Jerwood, Torbay Culture and others, and is an assistant facilitator at Theatre Royal Plymouth.

He is supported in this production by sound artist and musician Steve Sowden and creative technologist Tim Dollimore of The Media Workshop.

Sam Parker and Jennifer Noice provided dramaturgical support and Clair Sargeant provided artistic and access consultancy services.

Subscribe to The Exeter Digest - Exeter Observer's essential free email newsletter

Your personal information will be processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Squeeze Box takes place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 October 2023 at Maketank in Paris Street. Doors open at midday with the main performance from 6pm.

Entry costs a minimum of £1, which is compensated in the form of refreshments, with attendees invited to pay more if they can. Proceeds will be used to help Maketank support local independent artists.

More information is available on the Maketank website.

Questions or concerns about access to or themes explored in Squeeze Box can be addressed to producer Shelley Hodgson via email.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know

Public interest news that holds power and influence to account is more important now than it has ever been.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer was created to deliver the independent investigative journalism our local democracy needs.

It exists because people who think what we do matters are willing to chip in each month to help cover our costs.

We need more of our readers to contribute like this so we can keep producing and publishing our essential reporting.

137 of the 300 paying subscribers we need have signed up so far. Join them today to help us reach our goal.

If you value the work we do please support our work from less than £2/week. It's a small investment for a very big return.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
Illustrative view of proposed co-living blocks from Heavitree Road

Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” scheme consultation extended

Developers revise application for full planning permission for 813-bed seven-block complex submitted in May as similar proposals proliferate across city centre.

Boneyard arcade games

Unique retro games arcade to create new Sidwell Street venue after long search

Boneyard arcade seeking permission to change use of empty Brighthouse retail unit after making way for “co-living” block at previous Red Lion Lane location.

Proposed revised Mary Arches Bartholomew Street East co-living block elevation

Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Changes include increased building footprints and removal of twelve rooms to provide eleven communal kitchens – between residents of 297 studios – while gates obstruct pedestrian thoroughfare and site’s historic setting and significance essentially ignored.

September 2025 permitted replacement scheme west elevation

Council denies data and contrives criteria to dismiss community balance concerns in third King Billy student block approval

Exeter Observer analysis finds more students living in city centre than residents as council bid to include PBSA in housing delivery figures weakens local planning policy – but does not remove it from decision-making altogether.

, updated

Grace Road Fields in March

Botched consultation restarted on sale of 8.5 acres of Riverside Valley Park green space

Council land disposal to include rights to lay underground distribution pipework across River Exe floodplain following “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields heat plant planning approval in face of Environment Agency sequential test concerns.