Jenny Sealey, theatre director
Jenny Sealey, director of Graeae Theatre Company, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item she would take with her if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.
Jenny Sealey has been the artistic director of Graeae Theatre Company since 1997: Graeae is a deaf and disabled-led company and a leader and innovator in accessible theatre. Jenny has directed opera as well as plays, and was the co-director of the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony.
Jenny was born in Nottingham in 1963, the eldest of four sisters. She lost her hearing at the age of seven following a fall at school in which she banged her head. At that time, deaf children were not encouraged to use British Sign Language, and so she taught herself to lip read, and stayed in a mainstream school, although she often found it challenging. She also continued to take ballet lessons, helped by an inspirational teacher who encouraged her to follow the form and movements of the dancer in front of her. She went on to study dance and choreography at Middlesex Polytechnic.
After graduation, Jenny worked as an actor before becoming the artistic director of Graeae. In 2022 she was awarded an OBE for services to disability arts. Most recently she returned to acting and toured the UK with Self Raising, her one-woman autobiographical play.
Jenny lives in London with her son and partner.
DISC ONE: Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 44, Chorus. Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth. Composed by George Frideric Handel and performed by The Sixteen Choir, conducted by Harry Christophers
DISC TWO: Yesterday - The Beatles
DISC THREE: Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
DISC FOUR: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
DISC FIVE: Because The Night - Patti Smith Group
DISC SIX: Spasticus Autisticus – John Kelly and the cast of Reasons to be Cheerful
DISC SEVEN: If It Can't Be Right Then It Must Be Wrong – John Kelly and the cast of Graeae’s stage production of Reasons To Be Cheerful
DISC EIGHT: Days – Kirsty MacColl
BOOK CHOICE: The Complete Works of Armistead Maupin
LUXURY ITEM: A photography kit
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 44, Chorus. Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth. Composed by George Frideric Handel and performed by The Sixteen Choir, conducted by Harry Christophers
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor
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Music Played
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George Frideric Handel
Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 44, Chorus. Hallelujah
Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.- Handel: Messiah.
- Hyperion.
- 45.
-
The Beatles
Yesterday
- Help! (Remastered).
- EMI Catalogue.
- 13.
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The Undertones
Teenage Kicks
- Teenage Kicks - The Very Best of The Undertones.
- Salvo.
- 1.
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Roberta Flack
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
- First Take.
- Atlantic Records.
- 6.
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Patti Smith Group
Because the Night
- Easter.
- Arista/Legacy.
- 3.
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John Kelly and Graeae Theatre Company
Spasticus Autisticus
-
The cast of Reasons to be Cheerful
If It Can't Be Right Then It Must Be Wrong
-
Kirsty MacColl
Days
- Kite (Deluxe Edition).
- Edsel.
- 4.
Broadcasts
- Sun 17 Mar 2024 11:15³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
- Fri 22 Mar 2024 09:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Lauren with Jenny
Read a transcript of Lauren Laverne's interview with Jenny Sealey.
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