EBYA and young people from Bristol Old Vic's Theatre School, perform to an audience in Colston Hall's lobby.

Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists

Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists is an inclusive theatre company for 16-30s in the Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset area. With us, you can develop your talents and receive training and mentorship from incredible professional artists with expertise in: 

  • Theatre
  • Music 
  • Dance 
  • Aerial Circus Performance 

Together we devise ambitious, challenging work which we perform across the UK. EBYA exists to support young artists at the start of their careers and bursary places are available.  

You can receive Arts Award certification with us and we’re proud to say that our alumni have moved on to NCCA, RADA and Bird College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre. We have also successfully supported applications for opportunities with National Youth Theatre and Graeae Theatre as well as for Arts Council grants for Individual Artist Development. 

We meet on Thursday evenings at The Lighthouse in Poole. 

If you’d like to join us then please get in touch with our Artistic Director Eilís Bevan-Davis by emailing eilis@diversecity.org.uk.

What’s happening in 2019?

In April of 2019 we premiered Till We Win, a new piece of theatre devised and performed by the company. We’re excited that the production is continuing to tour and develop – stay tuned for opportunities to see this and other upcoming work!

  • Daryl lays on the floor writing notes and smiling. A wheelchair is behind him. Jess sits next to Daryl smiling. Behind them is a large mirror - the reflection shows a group of people in the background.
  • EBYA and young people from Bristol Old Vic's Theatre School, perform to an audience in Colston Hall's lobby.
  • Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists gathered in a group in front of a brick wall, laughing and smiling together
  • Participants from the Creative Explorations workshop perform movement to a group of people sitting down.
  • Performance of becoming: One member balances on a trapeze with legs pointed straight and arms raised above head. A bright light behind illuminates the performer.
Arts Council England Logo

Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists is supported using public funding by National Lottery and Arts Council England.

Photos ©Dom Moore, Paul Blakemore, Will Clarke,
Alexa Ledecky, Keziah Benbow

Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists

Emily smiling to camera

Emily Cutler

Emily smiling to camera

Emily Cutler

Natalya, smiling, wearing a black hat

Natalya Howard

Natalya, smiling, wearing a black hat

Natalya Howard

Josh Ward smiling to camera

Josh Ward

Josh Ward smiling to camera

Josh Ward

Profile of Jessica Skelton, EBYA Member

Jessica Skelton

Profile of Jessica Skelton, EBYA Member

Jessica Skelton

Rachel, smiling to camera

Rachel Oram

Rachel, smiling to camera

Rachel Oram

Profile of Luke Davies smiling, EBYA member

Luke Davies

Profile of Luke Davies smiling, EBYA member

Luke Davies

Profile photo of Kieran Procter, EBYA Member

Kieran Procter

Profile photo of Kieran Procter, EBYA Member

Kieran Procter

Clarissa Hustler, EBYA member

Clarissa Hustler

Clarissa Hustler, EBYA member

Clarissa Hustler

Profile of Shane Masterman, EBYA Member

Shane Masterman

Profile of Shane Masterman, EBYA Member

Shane Masterman

EBYA Alumni

Profile of Dave Young, in front of a blue wall.

Dave Young

Profile of Dave Young, in front of a blue wall.

Dave Young

Dave is a writer, theatre-maker, workshop facilitator and board member for Diverse City, and winner of the Alan Martin Award for his Contribution to Creative Arts, leading writing workshops at the 1Voice annual conferences for communication aid users. He is a commissioned artist who regularly performs poetry as well as designing and creating poetry inspired art installations at festivals across the south west, including Inside Out Dorset and Funky Llama Festival, Plymouth Theatre Royal. Dave is currently working as librettist for the ‘Planted Symphony’ project with Drake Music.

Dave’s first scripted theatre show ‘Grow Up and Just Love Chocolate’ received Arts Council England Funding for a team of crew, actors, set and sound design, and debuted at Salisbury Playhouse as part of Fest West 2019 and went on to a repeat performance at Lighthouse, Poole. Dave plans to return to working on the show with a producer in the near future and book further performances at venues across the UK.

Dave’s creative career began through attending The Remix, through which Dave performed in Breathe at the opening of the Olympics in Weymouth and travelled to Brazil to work with disability dance groups. Dave also performed his poetry at the opening of the Paralympic games as part of the ‘Seen but Seldom Heard’ project.

Beth smiling to camera, hair tied back, wearing blue tshirt with white writing: THE FUTURE IS ACCESSIBLE

Beth Alsbury

Beth smiling to camera, hair tied back, wearing blue tshirt with white writing: THE FUTURE IS ACCESSIBLE

Beth Alsbury

I’m Beth, I’m from Frome in Somerset. I started working with Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists after participating in an Extraordinary Bodies creative explorations workshop in October 2017. I stayed with the youth company until August 2018 when I had to leave for university.
I fell in love with aerial circus, particularly static trapeze, and enjoyed challenging myself with new creative ways to use my body. I am currently studying BA Hons in Acting at RADA.
Freya Garner, EBYA member

Freya Garner

Freya Garner, EBYA member

Freya Garner

Hugo, a young white man, with light brown/blonde dreadlocks to his shoulders and a big smile!

Hugo Lucas-Rowe

Hugo, a young white man, with light brown/blonde dreadlocks to his shoulders and a big smile!

Hugo Lucas-Rowe

Rebecca Gear, EBYA member

Rebecca Gear

Rebecca Gear, EBYA member

Rebecca Gear

Hi I’m Becca and I’m from Bournemouth, I joined the EBYA family in 2015 and began my circus journey. With EBYA we created ensemble work that included theatre, movement and aerial. I also got the opportunity to travel to Bosnia with EBYA and teach my skills to others, along the way learning many of new skills, such as parkour!
Thanks to EBYA, I am now currently a second year degree student at the National Centre for Circus Arts, my discipline is dance trapeze and I also have a love for acrobatics, handstands, movement and much more!
Working with  a group of disabled and non-disabled artists really opened my perspective of circus, it was really lovely to work with such a beautiful group of people.

Profile of Anthony Periera smiling.

Anthony Periera

Profile of Anthony Periera smiling.

Anthony Periera