‘Static’ Chat with Elaine Collins
Monday, 12 May 2025
Ahead of her performance of ‘Static’ at Unity Friday 30th May we sat down with Elaine Collin’s creator & performer of the piece to learn more about her and the show.
Tell us about yourself
“I am a theatre maker who is arts council funded, also still singing and writing songs with DJ Blu Peter plus other artists working on other projects too related to theatre devising, been in a few films luckily speaking roles, one of which is being premiered in Cannes on 21st May.”
Tell us about Static, and why is it important for you to share this story?
“Static is about my lived experience of being a disabled woman in the entertainment and music biz, and how as a woman you tend to be objectified, and often sexualised, it is never just about you singing and your writing, image was always considered important, I never shared my disabilities so often masked and got good at that with me being neuro divergent, Men dominated those arenas, so there was exploitation. My experience with family too growing up as my background is working class so had to try harder and as none of my family had disabilities when I was diagnosed they found it difficult to understands and live with.”
Tell us about your history with Unity
“The Unity have offered great support, I was an up next festival artist, when show was named DDDivas, now it’s DDDivas presenting Static, there is a lovely team at The Unity, who want to develop theatre especially from those within minority groups, who may struggle to get their stories and voices heard. The show has been going through changes to find it’s story that has me leading, the arts council have supported my progress greatly too”
What can audiences expect from Static?
“They can expect beautifully composed music and songs by Andy Frizell which we sing together, writing and dramaturgy from Esther Wilson, Directing by Paula Simms, it is an inclusive show, which features captions, audio description and is a relaxed space with help from Lauren hall and Ann Hornsby plus Miriam bell, doing tech and Sarah Han who has created beautiful set design and stage management, wonderful animation from Lawrie Vause, plus Isaac Nixon who has been supporting me throughout and of course myself, it is a story of overcoming, determination and finding joy, a disabled woman who never gives up.”
What’s next for Static?
“Blu peter is going to be doing do a remix of dance track from Static which I sing on, lyrics by Paula Simms and composed by Andy Frizell, what happens from that we will have to wait and see but I am sure it will be fun, hoping to tour Static more in the future with Blu Peter’s remix included. Doing a further show in Cheshire College in partnership with Theatre Porto on 3rd June for sixth formers too.”