Show helps give a platform to deaf and disabled performers at The Hat Factory

Platform East features work from emerging and established deaf and disabled artists in theatre, dance, circus arts and music.

The aim is to give a platform to deaf and disabled artists who are creating new and exciting work to showcase to audiences, producers and programmers in the East and South East region.

Laurence Clark, a stand-up comedian described as “stupendously funny and thought-provoking” by The Stage, will open the show with his observational political play which features hidden camera footage. It demonstrates the endearing naivety and ridiculousness of human behaviour by allowing audiences to see the world through his eyes, with humour and warmth.

Laurence has performed everywhere from a double-decker bus in Sheffield to the House of Commons, so the Hat Factory gig should be a piece of cake for the comic.

He will be joined by Vince Laws, a poet/ artist/ performer / campaigner, who became a full-time artist after suffering a year of illness brought on by treatment for HIV and Hepatitis C.

Vince is the Norwich Pride Poet Laureate and as the leader of one half of LGBT coming out project OUT140, his work deals with deeply personal and sometimes painful subject matter with great wit.

Also performing is Miriam Dubois, a deaf African drummer. She took her phenomenal talent to Glastonbury Festival where she performedwith Deaf Rocker.

Last but not least will be Baluji Shrivastav, described as one of the greatest instrumentalists India has ever produced, who had to teach himself because his blindness meant he was not able to be guided by traditional gurus.He performed at the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games 2012 with Coldplay.