Ep. 165: ‘Making the Arts Inclusive for All’ with Robert Softley Gales
Description
This week on Just Get A Real Job, I’m joined by the brilliant Robert Softley Gale – a Scottish theatre-maker, who’s spent over two decades championing inclusivity and accessibility in the arts.
As Artistic Director of Birds of Paradise – Scotland’s leading disability-led theatre company – Robert has reshaped the conversation around representation, storytelling, and what theatre can be. In 2024, he was recognised in The List Hot 100 for his powerful contributions to the industry.
We talk about why disability should never be a barrier to working in the arts, and how Robert’s work continues to break down outdated ideas around access, casting, and creativity.
In this episode, we chat about:
- 🎭 30 years of Birds of Paradise
- 🌟 Robert’s creative journey
- 🎨 Making the arts more accessible
- 📖 Telling authentic stories
- 🎬 Improving disability representation in casting
- 🤔 Why discomfort keeps you creatively sharp
- 💡 Advice for navigating theatre in 2025
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If you care about theatre, storytelling, or building a more inclusive creative industry – this one’s for you.
🎧 Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts – and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share!
Robert Softley Gale:
Birds of Paradise Theatre Company: https://www.boptheatre.co.uk/
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