About Us:
Same Difference Arts CIC (SD) was created in 2015 to make outdoor theatre and performance which is both interactive and engaging for audiences.
SD are led by Natasha Glew – who has lived and worked in Bradford and Leeds since 2011.
Natasha is from a working class family, and started SD with £100 in her bank account and a big dream and no chance of financial support- some would call that wacky, others determined.

SD have been based in Bradford Thornbury Centre since 2022, taking up permanent position in the community. They has established Arts at the Thornbury Centre, a programme free and PAYF of arts and cultural events for Thornbury residents and has big plans for 24-25.

SD’s ethos is to create inclusive and accessible theatre for families, using street theatre and interactive theatre approaches. We are in year 3 of a 5 year plan to work with ACE and develop as an inclusive and accessible theatre company.

SD employ over 80 freelance performers from across Bradford and West Yorkshire. We work with actors, set makers, costume makers, writers director and many more creatives. We have helped train new emerging actors out of college and university and help them progress in the arts. We often work with interns from Bradford College and Leeds College, offering work placements in all areas of the arts business. We also work with Mencap, offering placements to people with access needs.
We are one of the leading examples of theatre companies offering paid arts employment in Bradford from a theatre company.

Our History:
In 2015, Bradford Festival commissioned the creation of A Few Feet Up. This was our first walkabout act exploring place through an interactive science object. This led to SD making further work that combines theatre and science to make learning interactive. We tour this work to this day.

In 2017, SD was awarded "Best External Partner Activity" ​by Southampton Science & Engineering Festival for our Periscope Workshop. 

In 2018, SD was awarded Arts Council Funding to create Memory Collectors. They were also supported by Bradford Festival 2018, to bring the show to the festival. 

In 2019, SD were awarded their second round of Arts Council Funding to tour Memory Collectors in summer 2019. They have been supported by Greenbelt Festival, Arts by the Sea, Larmer Tree festival and Locomotion Railway museum. 

2020-21 SD made their first full length outdoor show, Alice in Wonderland. They toured nationwide during summer months to over 20 venues in the north. 

2022 saw SD create their first inclusive Christmas show, Cinderella. This toured across North and West Yorkshire to 49 venues in 5 weeks. SDA worked with Mind the Gap in Bradford and access specialist Vicky Ackroyd to build inclusivity into the show. 

2023 saw SD receive funding to make Squirrel Walnutkins Saves the Planet, their second inclusive show, which toured to 25 venues including Bradford Festival, Whitchurch family festival, Eureka Museum, Harris Museum and many more. We worked with Liam a disabled actor from Mind The Gap in our cast.

2023 we were invited to perform Cinderella at Leeds Central Library over Christmas, performing for 10 days to public and council supported groups through The Healthy Holiday schemes.

​2023 also saw SD tour their second Christmas show, Robin Hood. We toured across North Yorkshire and Bradford community venues. This interactive modern panto, was well received and plans to tour again in 2024 and beyond. ​

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 PAST FESTIVALS

Greenwich Docklands International Festival (2016), Bradford Festival (2015, 2016 & 2017), Deershed Festival (2016), Southampton Science & Engineering Festival (2017) - awarded "Best External Partner Activity", DNweekeND (2015, 2016 & 2017), Larmer Tree Festival (2016), Urban Village Fete (2017), Lemonfest (2017), Oban Winter Festival (2017), Manchester Science Festival (2016), Oxfordshire Science Festival (2017), Retford Steampunk Festival (2017), Burnley Canal Festival (2016 & 2017), Cowley Road Carnival (2017), Shildon Steampunk Spectacular (2016 & 2017), Manchester Day (2017), Hull Science Festival (2017), Shipley Street Arts Festival (2016 & 2017), Norwich Science Festival (2017), Haphazard Festival (2016), Wolverhampton Artsfest (2017), Farsley Festival (2017), Knaresborough FEVA (2017), Morley Arts Festival (2017), Stepping Stones Festival (2017)