Ben Wilson is a blind actor, theatre maker and access consultant who has just started in post with Extant the UK’s leading theatre company for blind and partially sighted performers and audiences as their first Trainee Artistic Director.

Ben spent five years as the Ramps on The Moon Agent For Change at Sheffield Theatres and co-founded both creative audio description company Hear The Picture and theatre company Brick Wall Ensemble. He recently received a commendation at the National Theatre and Sunday Times‘ prestigious Ian Charleson awards.

His credits as an actor and creative include Ramps on The Moon’s productions of Oliver Twist and Much Ado About Nothing, Leeds Playhouse productions Macbeth and Road. Sheffield Theatres production of Guys and Dolls and with his company Brick Wall, Meic On The Mic and Henry 5, for which Extant provided support through the Tim Gebbels bursary.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Ben to firstly find out more about his theatre background and career so far before asking Ben why he wanted to apply for the Trainee Artistic Director role at Extant, how he sees the role evolving over the next couple of years and how he will work to build on the great success that Maria Oshodi has created over the last 25 years or so as CEO and Artistic Director of Extant. 

To follow Ben’s time at Extant as their first Trainee Artistic Director and to find out more about the great work Extant continues to do in providing opportunities and training within theatre and the arts for blind and partially sighted people do visit the Extant website - https://extant.org.uk

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