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Inclusive digital innovation on stage with Flo O’Mahony and Amy Smith from Zoo Co
In this episode of our Digital Culture Awards series, James talks to Flo O’Mahony and Amy Smith from Zoo Co – joint-winners of the Digital Inclusion category - about their production ‘Perfect Show for Rachel’.
Created with and for Flo’s sister Rachel, who is learning disabled, the show places Rachel at the heart of the creative process as live director. Using a custom-built desk with 50 tactile buttons, Rachel controls lighting, sound, video, and cast actions in real time.
Flo and Amy share how the project evolved from early improvisation and iPad experiments into a fully staged production with a cast of 13, live scribe, British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, and a touring workshop model that empowers other learning disabled people to direct their own stories.
They discuss:
- How starting with people - not tools - led to meaningful digital innovation and inclusive creative practices.
- Why treating Rachel’s decisions as dramaturgy reshaped the company’s approach to collaboration and access.
- What new possibilities emerged – from touring workshop models to the creation of an access equipment library for artists.
Links and resources discussed in this episode:
- Download the transcript for this episode (Word document)
- Explore Zoo Co’s Digital Culture Award win
- Learn more about ‘Perfect Show For Rachel’
- Find out how to access Zoo Co's free Access Resource Library
Zoo Co were joint winners of the Digital Inclusion category in the 2025 Digital Culture Awards. The winners of this category were decided by a panel of experts, led by Tom Ryalls - Cultural Consultant, Strategist and Writer.
Music by SHAR
View all episodes
By Digital Culture NetworkIn this episode of our Digital Culture Awards series, James talks to Flo O’Mahony and Amy Smith from Zoo Co – joint-winners of the Digital Inclusion category - about their production ‘Perfect Show for Rachel’.
Created with and for Flo’s sister Rachel, who is learning disabled, the show places Rachel at the heart of the creative process as live director. Using a custom-built desk with 50 tactile buttons, Rachel controls lighting, sound, video, and cast actions in real time.
Flo and Amy share how the project evolved from early improvisation and iPad experiments into a fully staged production with a cast of 13, live scribe, British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, and a touring workshop model that empowers other learning disabled people to direct their own stories.
They discuss:
- How starting with people - not tools - led to meaningful digital innovation and inclusive creative practices.
- Why treating Rachel’s decisions as dramaturgy reshaped the company’s approach to collaboration and access.
- What new possibilities emerged – from touring workshop models to the creation of an access equipment library for artists.
Links and resources discussed in this episode:
- Download the transcript for this episode (Word document)
- Explore Zoo Co’s Digital Culture Award win
- Learn more about ‘Perfect Show For Rachel’
- Find out how to access Zoo Co's free Access Resource Library
Zoo Co were joint winners of the Digital Inclusion category in the 2025 Digital Culture Awards. The winners of this category were decided by a panel of experts, led by Tom Ryalls - Cultural Consultant, Strategist and Writer.
Music by SHAR