Spark Festival
Between October 2020 and April 2023 Daryl was Associate Director at The Spark Arts for Children and Co-Festival Director of The Spark Festival, which is an annual arts festival for young audiences in Leicester which provided Extraordinary experiences for children, sparking creativity and change.
Find out more about Spark HERE
Drake Music
Between 2015 and 2020 Daryl was Artistic lead at Drake Music, who are leaders in music, disability and technology. Daryl worked with Disabled artists, musicians and young people to use new technologies and ideas to open up access to music for all. As well as developing the company's artist development, commissioning programme and international collaboration with British Council Japan. Drake Music’s vision is a world where disabled and non-disabled musicians work together as equals.
Find out more about Drake Music HERE
A Different Way
2019/20 saw the launch of ‘A Different Way’ which followed the ideology of ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’, it aimed to build knowledge of how to create work with, not for, young Disabled people. Working with 7 national partners and 5 Disabled artists focusing on Disabled-led Theatre for Young Audiences involving national sector development by placing Disabled young people at its heart.
This flagship programme launched a change within the TYA sector, engaging 188 UK-wide sector professionals in a dialogue about Disabled-led work for young audiences and the need, desire and realities of touring and programming Disabled-led work for young audiences
A Different Way saw Daryl Beeton Productions research and develop 3 new shows for different age groups, delving into the nuances of access and inclusion in meaningful and entertaining ways. These included the development of our successful collaboration with Mimbre ‘Look Mum, No Hands!’ and our upcoming collaboration with Half Moon ‘Boxed In’.
You can watch some of the R&D films HERE
#ADiffWay Online
In July 2020 we ran the ‘#ADiffWayToThink – The Online Series’ which discussed actions that will supported the arts sector to stay on an inclusive path, as we respond to the changes and challenges thrown up by COVID-19. The sessions were led by Disabled artists and practitioners and – in the ethos of doing things differently – they were not the usual ‘Zoom Doom’. Using creative access methodology, the gatherings offered a relaxed and engaging way to come together and think.
You can see some of the film resources we created HERE
Back To Normal
2020 saw a partnership with First Arts and Mansfield-based disabled advocacy and grassroots activist group OneConversation, Back to Normal was a project challenging the norm for the learning disabled and autistic community. The project harnesses art activism – using the arts as a powerful medium – to expose some of the issues disabled people face as part of everyday life as we navigate a changing world as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Workshops with local disabled people informed a series of short animated films (or vignettes), which offer both a platform to express their dissatisfaction but also are designed to start conversations that will be part of that change which were then projected on buildings across Nottingham city centre.
Find out more and watch the films HERE
Wild N Beets
In 2017 Nicola Miles-Wildin and Daryl Beeton set up their new collective Wild N Beets, and there now infamous characters Beryl & Cyril, as a way to create and present family friendly outdoor work that took Disability politics on to the high street, but with their unique brand of funny and cheeky end of the pier type humour. Together they reinvented great British games from our childhood by placing what it means being Disabled in today's current climate of austerity and inequality.
Bingo Lingo (2018/19)
Bingo on a Paralympic scale! It wassupported by Without Walls, and commissioned by Greenwich+Docklands International Festival and Stockton International Riverside Festival.
Buck a Brenda (2019/20)
The wheelchair wobbling game of chance. Supported by Without Walls and commissioned by Greenwich+Docklands International Festival and Hat Fair
Beryl & Cyril’s Great Barnsley Bake Off! (2020)
Beryl and Cyril host their own version of a popular TV format. Support from Made In Corby and The Core at Corby Cube,
Isolation Bingo (2021)
Because of Covid-19 they were not allowed out of the houses so they brought their brand new game into your homes! Commissioned by First Arts
Graeae Theatre Company and Richard Cloudesley
In 2018 Daryl worked with Greaea and Artist, Sofie Layton to develop and deliver a school residency with Richard Cloudesley School delivering weekly workshops with their students exploring machines, gadgets and puppets. At the end of the 8 weeks young people presented their work to a small audience of family, friends and class mates.
Reasons to be Cheerful
In 2017 Daryl was Associate Director on Graeae Theatre Company's autumn national tour of Reasons to be Cheerful. A raucous musical featuring the hits of Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Written by Paul Sirett, Directed by Jenny Sealey with music by Ian Dury & the Blockheads. A Graeae Theatre Company production in association with the Belgrade Theatre Coventry.
Find out more about the show HERE
The Iron Man of Karachi
in 2017/18 in partnership with Graeae and British Council Pakistan Daryl worked on developing a pioneering theatre-makers training programme for D/deaf and disabled young people and local theatre artists in Karachi.
Watch a short film about the project HERE
Rollettes (Greaea’s Young Company)
For several years Daryl worked with the Rollettes, Graeae’s Young Artistic Advisors (aged 7-16). Creating shows such as 'The Buccaneers’ Final Frontiers' at The Scoop on the river Thames as part of the LONDON BRIDGE CITY FRINGE FESTIVAL, 'The Astro-Elves Save Christmas' turning on The Hackney Christmas Lights and Babushka a christmas circus inspired show!
Find out more about the projects HERE
Happy Ever After Festival
In the summer or 2015 Daryl worked with a group of 16 – 25 year olds to create an outdoor family arts festival with Kazzum. This included training and support for the young people to artistically programme professional acts, market the event, create bespoke performances and manage the festival. It was held on a sunny Saturday and had over a 1000 people attend. The ‘Happy Ever After’ family festival was a fairy tale themed event in Weavers Field Pocket Park in Bethnal Green filled with street performance, storytelling, craft workshops and live music!
Watch a short film about it HERE
London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony
in 2012 Daryl performed as part of the professional Aerial team and performed on Sway poles and flew 25 meters across the stadium.
You can watch a short film of the opening ceremony HERE
Kazzum
From 2005 - 2015 Daryl was Artistic Director at Kazzum where he directed 12 productions and delivered over 20 participatory projects placing access and inclusion at its core. He led the company's strategic development both artistically and financially. This included development of artistic practise, business planning, evaluation and reporting to stakeholders.
Find out more about Kazzum HERE
Moments in Motion
In 2005 Daryl created his very first independent show. Moments in Motion was a one man show that explored childhood memories of loneliness and their impact on adult life and the search of 'Mr Right'. A mixture of comedy, theatre, movement and trapeze!
Watch extracts form the show HERE
Beyond Boundaries
In 2005 Daryl took part in the first series of Beyond Boundaries 'Nicaragua'. He was part of a team of eleven Disabled people who trekked across the rainforests, deserts, rivers and mountains of Nicaragua. This arduous route took him from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean as the crow fly's. And all of this was for a BBC 2 Documentary. It took 4 weeks to cross 228 miles which resulted in 4 X 1 hour programmes for BBC in 2005.
You can watch some highlights HERE
Half Moon
between 2002 - 2005 Daryl was the Associate Director at Half Moon Young People's Theatre with specific focus on Disability and Community. During that time he worked on a variety of youth theatres, community and schools projects as well as directing small scale professional shows.
There is a great archive website with video interviews and images here on Stages of Half Moon
We make quirky, creative theatre for young audiences and their families. Ideal for theatres and art venues as well as schools, festivals and rural touring.
Click to discover a whole new world of theatre!
Say hello to the people who make up Daryl & Co, from designers to directors and performers to producers.
Meet the Team
