International Day for Persons with Disability
Don’t Fence Me In
A Rogue Encounters Production for Brain Injury Matters
Devised and Performed by The Unusual Suspects Ensemble
Directed by David Calvert: Artistic Director, Rogue Encounters
3rd December 2025
An ensemble like no other! Survivors of a catastrophic brain injury, truth-telling in a vivid physical theatre style at Northern Ireland’s premier professional producing theatre.
Elaborating on a fragment from last year’s Rhythm of Two Hearts production at the Lyric Theatre in December 2024, The Unusual Suspects present a personal story to highlight the support needs of brain injury sufferers in general. This new work will be a combination of intimate story-telling and vibrant ensemble messaging about the challenges of habituating to a life post brain injury, with emphasis on vital support needs.
Kathryn is the youngest member of the ensemble, a young woman in her early twenties, whose life force is undiminished by the catastrophic brain injury she suffered aged eighteen. “I was having fun then and I want fun again”, she declared in last year’s production, pointing to a screen image of herself as a vivacious eighteen-year-old on a night out.
Don’t Fence Me In will feature emotionally intimate depictions of Kathryn’s pre and post brain injury story and highlight the challenges of ‘habituating’ to a post-injury life.
The Unusual Suspects is a unique theatrical ensemble that already has two successful productions under its belt, highlighting, supporting and giving voice to those living with acquired brain injury and the families affected.
You will be moved and inspired!
Marvellous Humans
A Rogue Encounters/Lyric Theatre Partnership
Physical Theatre training that is authentically inclusive and welcomes young people of all abilities.
Professional-led training, leading to a public performance at The Lyric Theatre in Spring 2026
Following on the outstanding success of Rogue Encounters participation in The Lyric Theatre’s outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2024, which brought young disabled performers into the spotlight in a supremely accomplished professional production, an opportunity for committed young people of all abilities to train for a physical theatre performance at the Lyric Theatre in Spring 2026.
The training programme will run from November 2025 to March 2026, with a concluding performance. This is an opportunity to experience professional-led physical theatre disciplines in a diverse ensemble of young people of all abilities (including disability)
Image of 3 young people on stage with their arms raised
Rogue Encounters at The Lyric:
“An amazing theatre night, so adventurous and full of life and fun. Brilliant and sometimes scary improvisation. Really great art!”
Jimmy Fay, Executive Producer/Artistic Director, Lyric Theatre
Applications to The Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk/creativelearning
An emerging theatre-maker in the Rogue Encounters Creative Team featuring prominently in upcoming events
Billí Mills: Trainee Artistic Leader, Rogue Encounters
I’m lucky that art sang my name when I was young! Art has been a gift in my life, and I feel a responsibility to give something back.
I am a working class, queer/cis woman with hidden disabilities, and performing art has been a space where I can express myself authentically. Disability swooped in the middle of the night and stole my early twenties. That experience has been the catalyst for changes in awareness of who I am and the direction I need to go.
I’ve had a personal insight into how society can hinder the life of a disabled person, but I’ve also discovered the strength and empowerment, the resilience and diversity, that can be found in the disabled community. I want to make art that celebrates all that’s best in that community.
Training and being mentored in Rogue Encounters over the past two years has given me the opportunity to develop as an artist, to take risks and not fear failure. I’m more ready than ever to use my voice and my ability in a community I call home.
Image of young people and Billi´ on stage. Billi´ is in a crouched position with arms extended.
Outreach
2025/2026
Physical Theatre and Global Music in North Belfast
2025/26 will see Rogue Encounters delivery of a multi-layered project at the John Paul Youth Club, North Belfast, also involving Beyond Skin, with a festive conclusion to promote the outdoor amphitheatre in the grounds of the club. The project will be led by Outreach Manager, Jade Quinn, assisted by Trainee Artistic Leader, Billí Mills. The project is funded by Urban Villages.
Suicide Awareness
Also in the pipeline for the 2025/26 Rogue Encounters Artistic Programme is a performance art installation/storytelling project with members of the Suicide Awareness and Support Group (SA&SG) in West Belfast. This project will be delivered by Rogue Encounters Artistic Director, David Calvert, and Creative Team member, SoSo Ní Cheallaigh, and will involve the installation of physical theatre enactments by members of SA&SG filmed in the organisation’s Garden of Hope. Filming by Rogue Encounters regular film maker, Michael McNulty.