ActOne ArtsBase runs vibrant all-ability dance, theatre and arts projects all over Hertfordshire and the surrounding area.

We work in inclusive spaces where everybody feels valued. We create inspiring performances with people from all backgrounds, whatever their abilities.

Our goal is to make the performing arts accessible to all, regardless of disability or circumstance. Using this approach, we break down prejudice and barriers to participation for hundreds of young people.

• Read about our commitment to inclusion
• See what's coming up in the Artsbase calendar

Suzie Birchwood

Dancer, Choreographer and Artistic Director of ActOne ArtsBase

At the age of 16 Suzie won a full scholarship to train as a dancer at the London Studio Centre. However, at 17 she developed the neurological condition Dystonia, which causes involuntary, uncontrollable muscle spasms throughout the body. After 2 years of treatment and rehabilitation she was able to walk with the aid of a stick and was well enough to return to aspects of her training at the Studio Centre. She became interested in treatments that she had found to be particularly helpful in the management of her condition, injury techniques including the Alexander Technique and yoga.

After leaving the London Studio Centre Suzie worked as an actress and a freelance dance practitioner, writer, director and singing coach with several different groups. Her experiences during this time drew her attention to the barriers that exist between different groups of people and the difficulty that disabled people have in accessing opportunities in the arts. She became focused on working in inclusive spaces and bringing groups together in an accessible environment.

In August 2001 Suzie had a severe Dystonia relapse that meant she needed to use a wheelchair permanently. This made her even more determined to develop her work in dance theatre and challenge mainstream perceptions of disability and accessibility. With these motivations, she founded ActOne ArtsBase.

Suzie's Inspiration

Suzie also worked with a number of inspiring disability arts organisations around that time. They included Jigsaw Theatre Company run by the late Gill Geharadi, Theatre Resource (now Zinc Arts) and the excellent Amici Dance Theatre whose choreographer Wolfgang Stanger has been at the forefront of integrated dance for 30 years.

As Artistic Director Suzie is responsible for the overall running of the company, training of the artistic staff, and the curriculum of the arts programme. She is also the choreographer for ARC, ActOne's professional performance company. Suzie also works as a consultant in integration, dance and disability and as a choreographer with a number of councils and organisations including Hertfordshire County Council, Dance Digital and Actability. She is also also proud to be a dancer with Amici Dance Theatre with whom she performs regularly.

ActOne ArtsBase grew from a single project to a flourishing organisation playing a leading role in the creative activity of the region. Suzie has drawn together a wonderful team whose experience and skills have enabled ActOne to expand and strengthen it's work. ActOne now has a wealth of expertise, experience and resources within the company which enables it to provide training and consultation to many other practitioners and organisations as well as reaching participants directly through projects and workshops.

"I am so delighted to be on this journey with ActOne. I have been able to combine all the things that are important to me and bring to use my experiences both good and bad. It has bought together an ActOne family, people of all ages who work together to demonstrate, through positive examples that difference should be celebrated. ActOne has provided me the privilege of working with and learning from many wonderful individuals, of witnessing great leaps of progress and of finding myself in a place that I fit and feel completely accepted."