Open Rehearsal - May I Take Your Arm?

Description

May I Take Your Arm? started in May of 2026 when award-winning, Blind performer, Alex Bulmer visited London, Ontario and invited a small number of locals to join her for simple encounters: a meeting, a conversation, a shared route through places familiar to Londoners. Along streets they love, places they return to, places that hold a story. And as they walked, they guided Alex –describing, navigating, noticing –and together they talked.

The walks were recorded and transformed into a stunning, 3D soundscape designed by UK-based, sonic artist Lewis Gibson. 

May I Take Your Arm? deconstructs the visual preoccupation in theatre in order to show us how sound can be shaped. Through her visceral writing and riveting presence, Alex reveals how noise becomes sound, sound becomes place, and place gives meaning to the unknown.

May I Take Your Arm? Will perform a limited run of performances at TAP Centre for Creativity’s Bruce B. Johnson Theatre. All performances of May I Take Your Arm? are accessible to Blind/Low Vision audience members as it was created and designed with them as the priority.  There are no flashing lights in May I Take Your Arm?

Performance Information

Open Rehearsal

• Saturday, September 5th

• 7:30pm - 8:30pm

• No admission. Registration required to secure a seat. Limited availability.

• This is an open rehearsal. What does that mean? May I Take Your Arm? is experimenting with convention both in performance and accessibility, and as part of the creation process for this one-of-a-kind show, we need some enthusiastic and playful theatre lovers to collaborate in the development of the work. Your participation will help shape a performance on September 11, and ultimately, contribute to a model that will tour to new locations.

Click here for tickets to the final performance on September 11th - 7:30pm.

Accessibility

If you would like to attend the Open Rehearsal and you have access requirements related to communication, seating and mobility, please contact the Producer, Erin Clark at erin@erinsings.com so we can make sure you have the support you need to fully participate.

About

May I Take Your Arm? is a disability-led theatre arts project by Canadian, Blind Alex Bulmer. Named one of the most influential disabled artists by UK’s Power Magazine, Alex Bulmer has over thirty-five years’ experience across theatre, film, radio and education. She is fuelled by a curiosity of the improbable, dedicated to collaborative practice, and deeply informed by her experience of becoming blind. 

Creative Team

Artistic Lead, performer, writer - Alex Bulmer

Co-director - Tristan Whiston

Dramaturg - Lou Cope

Performance Environment Design - Anna Camilleri

Audio Archivist and Sound Design - Lewis Gibson

Lighting Design - Laura Sepulveda

Movement Direction - Sara Porter

In-field recording - Mike Donaldson

Local blind mentee - Lisa Kovac

Production Team

Producer - Erin Clark 

Production Manager - Pat Lynn

Stage Manager - Kydra Ryan

Access Support - Annie Lee

Access Support - Stephan Ortiz

Access Support - Rio Palmer

Access Support - Sarah Palmer 

Access Support - Mariam Waliji

Access Support for the walks - Mandy MacLean

Assistant access support for the walks - Jeff Orchard

London Walkers

Mariam Waliji

Susan Jory

Bizz Varty

Jeff Orchard

Faewyn Stark

Mai Tilson

Support

Supported by Canada Council for the Arts 

Developed in collaboration with the National Arts Centre’s Creative Producer Fellowship. 

May I Take Your Arm? Was originally produced by ReDefine Arts