‘The York Union House of Disability Joy and Pride’ was created as part of ‘Shout, Grow, Mend: Stories of disability’ on Saturday 7 June 2025 at Explore York. A Playback Theatre performance by Next Door But One that encouraged attendees to share their own stories from 2025 connected to York’s history of disability.
‘The York Union House of Disability Joy and Pride’ is based on the various yards and labels found on the representation of York Union Workhouse on a 1852 large scale map of York by Captain Tucker R.E. for the Ordnance Map Office. This includes the ‘idiots day room’, ‘female lunatics yard’ and the ‘unmarried women’s yard’.
‘The York Union House of Disability Joy and Pride’ is represents stories shared by disabled people at the performance and is a hope for the future where disability, or as one person suggested ‘being wonderfully outside the range’ is unconditionally included, celebrated and embraced.
