“Allvalidation” - Kazakhstan

3 Aug

9 days in Almaty, Kazakhstan documenting in sketches a performing arts festival.

Allvalidation was the 2nd Festival of Performing Arts from Disabled and Neurodivergent performers, hosted by Action Literally (Kazakhstan) and Dirty Protect Theatre (UK). The festival, hosted in Almaty, Kazakhstan ran over 4 days from Friday 29 May - Wednesday 3 June 2026, with 12 events over 7 venues. These included performances for under 7’s, panel discussions, workshops and post performance discussions with sign language for deaf performers and viewers.

2 theatre companies, 2 dancers and Emma-Jayne joined from the UK, providing 8 of the events. Artist Emma-Jayne Holmes recorded the trip and events in her own style of loose quick sketches live, on site. Using pen to capture in line the forms and connections between people on the stage and the tensions and atmosphere of the events.

The event was funded by the British Council, supporting and highlighting diversity in the arts.

All the sketches were executed on site, during live performances, using a pen and waterbased pencils, with a waterbrush on paper. Generally worked on an A6/A5 size, so as to be discreet, Emma was able to work on larger A4 paper during masterclasses. Over 200 sketches were produced over the duration of the trip, which also included sketches of some day trips out of the city into the mountains.

Thanks to everyone involved - it was an amazing experience, which I feel very privileged to have been part of.

"Allvalidation" and is a collaboration between Dirty Protest and Catherine Paskell (Wales), Action Literally (Almaty), and colleagues, funded by the British Council .

Dirty Protest is @dirtyprotesttheatre on Facebook and Instagram

Action Literally is @bukvalnolab on Instagram

British Council is @kzbritish (Kazakhstan office) and @britishcouncilwales (Wales office) and @britishcouncil (UK)

The partner venue Transforma is @transforma.kz on Instagram

A message to the future / Living Legends - Crescendorious - Theatre Company, for sensory productions for younger people. And shows for adults.

ChooChoo - Stammermouth - Production looking at mental health.

Afterglow - Dance production by Anna Seymour and Mirabelle Haddon. This dance production with no sound track encourages us to consider deafness.

Apologies if any of the above is incorrect - please do contact Emma for amendments. Thank you.