Matt Harper

Theatre Practitioner: Self Care in Six Steps

Posted by Matt Harper on Tuesday, January 23, 2018

I’ve been a jobbing freelance theatre maker since 2010. I’ve worked for free, I’ve taken on jobs just to get my foot through the door, I’ve worked 13 hour days, 7 day weeks, 120 mile round trips to run workshops and been in a cyclical headspace of say ‘yes’ to every job in the hope it would lead to that golden opportunity. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve also had some of the most incredibly uplifting and fulfilling opportunities carved out through this process (and that’s what keep...

New (Non-Theatre) Blog

Posted by Matt Harper on Thursday, June 16, 2016

As you can see from the dates of the other blogs, I have slipped, but am very much on the blogging bandwagon again, but with a new twist.

I am blogging about the alien that has joined my family....

All will make sense if you go to my new blog.

If you're interested the site is www.thedaythealiencame.wordpress.com

Thanks.
Continue reading...

An Untitled Blog So As Not To Offend; does Political Correctness limit conversation and keep certain issues as taboos?

Posted by Matt Harper on Tuesday, July 16, 2013

''Baa, baa rainbow, green or happy sheep, have you any wool? Yes person (gender non specific) yes person (gender non specific), three (environmentally friendly trading standards approved) bags full; one for the non discriminative community leader, one for a generic religious denomination as well as one for the little person (no reference to dwarfism) who lives in a child friendly nanny state down the lane.''

My aim here is not to ruin a favourite nursery rhyme from your childhood, nor am I adv...

Review of 'Incorrection' by Christopher Mollon

Posted by Matt Harper on Saturday, July 23, 2011

ArtWorks at The Beautiful Meme

Matt Harper’s ‘Incorrection’

Friday 20^th May 2011

Glam cheered up the seventies (Ian Penman)

As we entered the office space of The Beautiful Meme, it felt very formal. A few people were milling around in an office that was reminiscent of an episode of the TV sitcom ‘The Office’, a Christmas special if you will. People were drinking and deep in conversation, it felt quite tense. The tension was soon about to be cut with a slice of contemporary Glam ...

Interview in The Press (York)

Posted by Matt Harper on Sunday, May 22, 2011

Every month York creative agency The Beautiful Meme holds a performance art showcase at its offices in Barleycorn Yard, Walmgate.

These ArtWork events are attracting an increasing number of spectators, drawn to artists sourced by the According To McGee gallery in Tower Street.

This evening the flame is passed to Cumbrian-born Matt Harper, who has cerebral palsy. Between 5pm and 8pm, he explores the stigmas attached to the disabled body and the prejudices connected to its aesthetic viewing. Plac...

Could Disability Art be the next Glam Rock Era?

Posted by Matt Harper on Friday, May 6, 2011

A Trace of Glitter

Whilst doing the research behind the iconography and discography of Incorection, I am delving quite heavily into

The slice of mascara. The lamé flash. The glistening bolt of cosmetic lightening. Bowie’s face on the cover of Aladdin Sane. (Haynes. 1998: x).

In other words the Glam Rock Revolution of the 1980s. Whether all involved were consciously aware or not, their fun loving, flamboyant outward energy shook the politics of the surrounding cultures interactions; It ...

Stuck Between Rocks and Hard Places: The Smokescreen of Disability Perceptions

Posted by Matt Harper on Saturday, April 2, 2011

Post war history taught us that western civilisation’s broad sweeping mindsets held ‘the belief that individuals needed to adapt to existing environments and that wheelchairs were obstacles to participation, not steps and curbs (Tremblay et al. 2005:112). The late 1960’s and early 70’s saw action being taken for infrastructure to be adapted to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities and encourage inclusion. Visibly, there are obvious procedures and policies, ramps, and elect...