RAMPS ON THE MOON PODCAST

Ramps on the Moon

Disability equality leader, Michèle Taylor, steers the Ramps on the Moon podcast into the heart of mainstream theatre. With special guests, she discovers the joys, the frustrations, the successes, and the learning in elevating disabled people into the centre of theatre work.Join Michèle as she shares the realities of the ‘now’ and what the future can hold for disability equality in the arts.Michèle is a disability equality trainer and consultant who set up her own business in 1992 to work with arts and other cultural organisations. She has seen immense change across the sector in that time, and is still impatient for more:“It’s time to focus on anti-ableism: recognising that as disabled people, we are no longer satisfied with being granted access into an essentially ableist sector. I am proud of the Ramps on the Moon partners for the work they have done to reflect on their own structures and processes, and to share their learning.”

  1. Ep 14: Rachel Sharpe from the RSC - Head of Co-Creation, Creative Learning and Engagement

    07/22/2025

    Ep 14: Rachel Sharpe from the RSC - Head of Co-Creation, Creative Learning and Engagement

    Michèle Taylor talks to Rachel Sharpe, Head of Co-Creation, Creative Learning and Engagement at the Royal Shakespeare Company. In this powerful conversation Rachel chats about: The emotional story of Ukrainian actors collaborating with the RSC on King LearWhat genuine co-creation looks like in practiceThe 'risk register' - a practice which make creativity possibleHer personal experience of parenting an autistic child — and what the theatre world is getting right (and wrong) for neurodivergent peopleThis episode is a moving, honest exploration of how the arts can drive societal change when inclusivity and personal experiences are placed at the heart of creative work. Thank you Rachel for sharing your fascinating world. Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    44 min
  2. Ep 13: Maximillian Fairley - Screen and stage actor - starring in ITV show 'Unforgotten'

    07/02/2025

    Ep 13: Maximillian Fairley - Screen and stage actor - starring in ITV show 'Unforgotten'

    Michèle Taylor talks to Maximillian Fairley - screen and stage actor about his flourishing career and what matters to him to be able to do his best work. Max talks about his experience in playing a lead role (Harry) in World Premier Village Idiot - A co-production by Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nottingham Playhouse and Ramps on the Moon, and written by Samson Hawkins Max talks in depth about his integral role playing Marty Baines in in Season 6 of ITV blockbuster Unforgotten Max also talks about the importance for actors with neurodiversity and disability to included: "And I think it is very important to me, not even just with neurodiversity and disability, I think in general, you know, even going beyond that, To me it's very important that actually I can be a part of proving that we are just as capable as neurotypical actors in portraying roles which have an integral part to the story, in even portraying stories in which maybe neurodiversity and disability aren't discussed. We are capable of doing it, you know? We're not a liability. We're not incapable of reaching the same highs" Thank you Max for a brilliant and enlightening conversation. We can't wait to see you on screen again! #MaxamillianFairley #podcast #Unforgotten #VillageIdiot #RampsOnTheMoon Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    50 min
  3. Ep 12: The Production Exchange team on their journey to an anti-ableist organisation

    06/18/2025

    Ep 12: The Production Exchange team on their journey to an anti-ableist organisation

    Michèle Taylor talks to Penelope Saward and Ben Oliver at The Production Exchange about their steps, successes and challenges towards creating an anti-ableist organisation following their year-long journey on the Ramps on the Moon Change Partner programme. The Production Exchange is a charity, established in 2013. They provide artists with pathways into the performing arts industry, with the hope of enabling them to forge careers that are sustainable and fulfilling. They accomplish this through two separate strands of their organisation. Firstly, they are an artist management company, representing over 90 artists, actors, directors, writers, designers, musical directors and they secure them paid employment opportunities functioning just like any other talent agency.  They are also a production company - developing and producing theatre. And through that, they provide employment and skills development opportunities to a wide variety of creatives. Some who are represented by them. Thank you Penelope and Ben for being so informative and open. #TheProductionExchange #AntiAbleism #DisabilityEquality Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    43 min
  4. Ep 11: Mat Fraser, stage and screen actor, writer, drummer and anti-ableist activist

    06/05/2025

    Ep 11: Mat Fraser, stage and screen actor, writer, drummer and anti-ableist activist

    Michèle talks to Mat Fraser - stage and screen actor, writer, drummer, and an anti-ableist activist. Join us for this lively, interesting and challenging podcast episode! Mat is well known for his powerful presence on both stage and screen, and is a patron of Graeae theatre company. Mat has appeared in acclaimed productions including American Horror Story, His Dark Materials, CripTales,  and Barbara Met Alan screen-based credits. Theatre credits include Beauty and the Beast and the first disabled actor to play Richard III in a professional production.  Mat's work spans theatre, television, and film, often blending bold storytelling with social commentary. Beyond his creative achievements, Mat has broken ground in challenging perceptions of disability in the arts. Thank you Mat for being a brilliant guest. Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    53 min
  5. Ep 10: Amy Trigg, actor, writer and Olivier Awards winner joins the conversation

    05/20/2025

    Ep 10: Amy Trigg, actor, writer and Olivier Awards winner joins the conversation

    Michèle Taylor talks to Amy Trigg, actor, writer and comedian, as well as Olivier Awards Winner in 2024 for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for 'The Little Big Things'. Amy talks about how representation has improved greatly on the screen over the last few years - and that she is now auditioning for roles that are not specifically for disabled actors, the only option available to her a few years ago.  Amy talks about her career to date, her writing as a passion of hers, and she gives us her thoughts on bringing more disabled people into 'the room' from the creation of productions to manage expectations of budgets to avoid unexpected costs for access. Thank you Amy for such a brilliant and interesting conversation. Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    50 min
  6. Ep 9: Zak Ford-Williams, screen and stage actor (Bridgerton,The Hardacres)

    05/07/2025

    Ep 9: Zak Ford-Williams, screen and stage actor (Bridgerton,The Hardacres)

    Michèle talks to Zak Ford-Williams, screen and stage actor in Bridgerton (Lord Remington), The Hardacres (Harry Hardacre), Wolfe (Tyler) and The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man (Joseph Merrick). Zak knew he wanted to act at six years old, after seeing George’s Marvellous Medicine. Though he didn’t initially identify himself as disabled as a young child, he later realised how excluded he was. Stubbornness kept him going - knowing he wasn’t alone.  Zak says 'Many young disabled people dream of creating art but feel there’s no space for them'. Thank you Zak for an incredibly in-depth and informative conversation. Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    51 min
  7. Ep 8: Making a meaningful evaluation of the Ramps on the Moon project

    08/17/2023

    Ep 8: Making a meaningful evaluation of the Ramps on the Moon project

    Clare Hammerton carried out the independent evaluation for the Ramps on the Moon consortium.  In this episode, Michèle asks her about the challenges of evaluation (especially in a multi-partner project) as well as talking about why it’s so important and powerful.  Clare puts the Ramps evaluation into the wider context  of her work around empowerment and participation and explains why it’s so important to think carefully about how you’re going to capture the data you need.  Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    40 min
  8. EP 7: The important impact of having an AGENT FOR CHANGE in your theatre

    07/28/2023

    EP 7: The important impact of having an AGENT FOR CHANGE in your theatre

    Ben Wilson and Aisling Gallagher have been Ramps on the Moon Agents for Change at Sheffield and Theatre Royal Stratford East respectively. They are both also independent theatre-makers. They give us a fascinating insight into what an Agent for Change does - and doesn’t do - to support organisational transformation, why being annoying, and why they have a trampoline instead of a desk.  Aisling celebrates the times things happen without their having any input and Ben tackles head on one of the key criticisms of Ramps on the Moon. Thank you for listening. For further information and to get in touch with us please visit our website HERE. Ramps on the Moon Podcast is hosted by Michèle Taylor. Michèle Taylor, is a disability equality trainer and consultant, and has been Director for Change for Ramps on the Moon since the Consortium was convened. For the 10 years, she has been supporting the partner theatres to embed disability equality and anti-ableism into their organisations and to realise their ambitions around elevating disabled people across the mainstream industry. In 2022 Michèle was honoured with an MBE For Services to Theatre and Disabled People. This podcast is produced and managed by Podtalk.co.uk

    47 min
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About

Disability equality leader, Michèle Taylor, steers the Ramps on the Moon podcast into the heart of mainstream theatre. With special guests, she discovers the joys, the frustrations, the successes, and the learning in elevating disabled people into the centre of theatre work.Join Michèle as she shares the realities of the ‘now’ and what the future can hold for disability equality in the arts.Michèle is a disability equality trainer and consultant who set up her own business in 1992 to work with arts and other cultural organisations. She has seen immense change across the sector in that time, and is still impatient for more:“It’s time to focus on anti-ableism: recognising that as disabled people, we are no longer satisfied with being granted access into an essentially ableist sector. I am proud of the Ramps on the Moon partners for the work they have done to reflect on their own structures and processes, and to share their learning.”

Information

  • Creator
    Ramps on the Moon
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ramps on The Moon
  • Show Website
    RAMPS ON THE MOON PODCAST