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Prefacemorn’s first show is on January 24. |
Changing our perceptions of ‘disabled’ art
Moyamoya sufferer’s bold theatre project poses a ‘subversive’ challenge to society
When Niall Cullen was diagnosed with Moyamoya syndrome at just three years old he was too young to grasp the magnitude of the disease.
If he hadn’t had an operation at nine his parents were told he would not make it past his 11th birthday.
Almost unheard of in the West, the rare and crippling condition starves the brain of oxygen, making strokes and blood clots a constant threat.
But a childhood of being shunned in the playground and branded “metal head” because of his artificially implanted arteries only galvanised his spirit, and now at 30 Niall is on the cusp of a bold theatre project which he hopes will turn the perception of disability on its head.
“The whole ethos of my company and the show is to cast a new perspective on disabled art,” said Niall. “Disabled art is always the first to suffer cutbacks, because somehow people think it’s not as worthy.
“I see the show as subversive – a challenge to society to reassess the way they understand disability. Even our name is a challenge – Prefacemorn is an anagram of performance to show that, just like disability, things aren’t always what they seem.”
Niall, who also suffers from a visual condition meaning he cannot read or write, set up Prefacemorn in November and the 13-strong company – a mixture of disabled and able-bodied perfomers – will give its first show at Camden People’s Theatre on January 24.
He has completely thrown out the director’s rulebook – mixing performers, many of whom have no acting experience and combining apparently incongruous styles to create a coherent body of work. Niall says it is a “call to arms” for disabled people across the country.
“My main aim in the casting process was to be anti-élitist,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if people have no acting experience. We took anyone as long as they could breathe. Everyone has talent which can be nurtured. The whole point is to build people’s confidence and get everyone working as a team. By focusing on dance I wanted to show people that disabled people can dance too.”
But, as Niall admits, dancing is a strenuous exercise which is dangerous for many of the performers.
“With my condition I get extremely tired very quickly. Worst case scenario, I could drop down on stage. But I have trained hard and know my body so that should not happen.
“Some of our performers have chronic fatigue syndrome and cerebal palsy, so dancing is a real hurdle for them but that is what we’ve been working on.”
Setting up Prefacemorn in a climate of cutbacks made it very difficult for Niall, who has scrimped and saved to give his dream a chance.
Relying on benefit cheques, the generosity of his parents and the support of his alma mater, Brunel University, the fact that Prefacemorn exists at all is a remarkable feat.
“There were times that I thought it wouldn’t happen. Myself and the rest of the company have given a tremendous amount and I just hope there is someone out there who sees the show and shares our vision. If we could get a bit of money behind us our company could become a social movement in itself.”
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