Graeae, known and respected internationally for championing and cultivating Deaf and disabled artists, is producing a new opera based on the remarkable, but little known, story of Austrian composer, Maria Theresia von Paradis. As a blind composer and musician, she was well-known within Viennese society and highly thought of by leading musicians of her day, such as Mozart.

You can find out more here or watch a short documentary about the making of the piece below (captioned and audio described):

Through the creation of this striking new piece of work, Graeae will celebrate disabled artists and open up opera to new audiences.

Directed by Jenny Sealey MBE, Artistic Director of Graeae and co-director of the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony, and with leading-composer Errollyn Wallen CBE (new arrangement of Jerusalem for the Last Night of the Proms 2020), this beautiful production with its striking evocation of 18th Century musical life, is designed to be toured worldwide. Commissioned by The Stables, for IF: Milton Keynes International Festival and planned to open at Curve Leicester, the original idea was created and developed by journalist and historian, Selina Mills.

The project includes: the opera production itself, its digital presentation and accompanying community outreach. The Paradis Files will celebrate and employ Deaf and disabled artists, while also opening opera up to new audiences.

We have already secured key funding, but need to raise £50,000 to present the project in full, including a digital version. Any gift, large or small, makes a huge difference. Please consider making a donation.

Covid-19 has had a hugely detrimental impact on the performing arts and the lives of many Deaf and disabled artists. If you want to help create a fantastic new opera and ensure Deaf and disabled people are employed and represented in the arts, then please support this project in any way that you can.

How your donation helps

£10 - two vocal scores for our singers

£50 - copies of the score for all the creative team

£100 - one Audio Description consultation to help make the opera accessible to blind and visually impaired audiences

£250 - a rehearsal with one of our musicians

£500 - one outreach session or the Front of House Model Box which enables blind or visually impaired people to explore the set before each performance

£1,000 - our production photographs

£1,500 - the British Sign Language translation costs to help make the opera accessible to Deaf audiences

£3,000 - one training opportunity for an emerging professional artist who is disabled in the post of Assistant Director, Assistant Designer or Assistant Conductor

£3,500 - the creative captioning for our performances to help make the opera accessible to Deaf and neurodivergent audience members

£5,000 - a répétiteur (tutor) for our opera singers or support a performer for the whole tour

£10,000 - a film-making team to create our digital screening or support the creation of a documentary about the production making process

If you make a donation, please share your contact details with us so that we can properly thank you and keep you updated with the projects progression. If you choose to remain anonymous on this website, please email richard@graeae.org after donating.

About Graeae

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2021, Graeae is an acclaimed and award-winning theatre company, existing to cultivate and champion the best in Deaf and disabled talent on UK and international stages. Recent productions and co-productions have included One Under, the hit Ian Dury musical Reasons to be Cheerful, The House of Bernarda Alba starring Kathryn Hunter, Blood Wedding, The Threepenny Opera and outdoor epics The Iron Man and This Is Not For You. In addition to productions, Graeae also run an extensive programme of training and learning throughout the year, working with early and mid-career Deaf and disabled artists across the UK to cultivate and develop their careers.