Applications are now open for The Extant Hive!
Founded in 1997, Extant will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2027 and as part of this journey, we are transforming. Our new leadership team will be called The Extant Hive.
Extant is the UK’s leading professional performing arts company of visually impaired artists and theatre practitioners, producing touring productions and delivering training regionally and internationally.
Extant is working in a very rich area, producing powerful performances, and I wish you all the best of strength and fortitude in the future
Peter Brook
Help Extant continue to create world class award-winning work by donating £25 for 25 more years.
Welcome to Extant
Extant is the opposite of extinct. Formed in 1997 by founder Dr Maria Oshodi and a group of professional visually impaired artists, the company aimed to redress invisibility of blind and partially sighted artists and explore new creative territories. Since then it has become a dynamic, political space to articulate and celebrate what visual impairment brings to the performing arts.
A short film celebrating our 20th Anniversary can be viewed here, and the full length version is available on request. Read our full list of awards granted over our history here.