I have been writing and performing poetry and music since the 1980’s both in Disability Arts and mainstream settings, mostly as a guitar playing singer songwriter using the stage name of Angryfish. From 1988 until 1992 I was the guitarist with Dan Dares Dog. I have also written a number of short plays notably “Truth Heals” written for a youth theatre group, which won a commendation in the Birmingham Theatre Arts Festival and the lead actress won best performance of the festival. I am currently booking performances of my one-man show called “All The Things We Could Have Been” which premiered in November 2010. In addition to my performance work I run creative writing for empowerment and recording workshops and have an HNC in professional music practice, supporting the operation of my own small studio and portable recording equipment.
I have been an activist for many years, I am a family man with a wife and two children, and prior to my arts career I was a full time athlete competing as a swimmer for Great Britain in three Paralympic Games.
Robin Surgeoner - AKA Angryfish
angryfish@angryfish.co.uk tel 07811 217 648
Objectives To broaden the representation, participation and consumption of all art and music by artists who are Disabled People, and to empower others through performance and creativity
Current Projects Curating and Promoting The Why? Festival including Why? Fest, an inclusive One Day Festival of music and spoken word and the Permission To Perform Artist Development Programme
Consultant Business Development Director (P/T) at Together 2012 CIC including The Together! Gallery a Disability Arts Market Place and Together! 2012 DIsability Diversity & Inclusion Consultancy
Promoting Angryfish Records through the production and distribution of Black Thursday the new Angryfish album
Writing, acting and performing new material.
Working in the re-empowerment of disenfranchised individuals through: 'Permission To Speak : Permission To Perform' workshops and performances
Through training: Understanding and applying The Social Model of Disability and Self Empowerment through the use of creative thinking and self expression. Disability, Diversity and Inclusion Equality Training and Organisational Development leading to Barrier Free Service Provision
Other Notable Projects
All The Things We Could Have Been - Is a 60 minute no holds barred exposé of the arduous journey into adulthood and life choices for Disabled People. Using poetry, song and spoken word. This performance piece will make you laugh, it may make you cry, and it will certainly make you question who makes the decision in your life
Lend Us Your Ears – Compilation album of original Disability arts music creators, undertook all aspects from seeking and auditioning artists, to recording, production, artwork, duplication, launch party and marketing
A Life In The Day Of – Original narrative performed as one voice and now in final revisions for short film production with Lynn Davies (BBC) producer
Truth Heals – A play with music, written and music played and recorded by myself, play produced and performed under my direction by Stage Coach Solihull, lead female won best actress in Birmingham and Solihull Theatre Festival for her part in this play, and play received commendation from festival panel
Permission To Speak – Ongoing series of art for empowerment workshops working with disenfranchised and marginalised people of all age groups to think creatively about themselves and then recording there work onto compilation albums for self belief and posterity
Mine Won’t Stand Up In Me ‘And – Short play written in workshops and performed by Disabled People about sexual frustration in the failure of being recognised as a sexual being
See Me As I Am – Digital arts project working with Ming De-Nasty creating collagaic digital images that make a statement about an individuals understanding of who they are and how they want to be recognised by society
Other Publishing Credits: Various poems and short stories published in a variety of magazines and collections including, DAIL ( Disability Arts In London), Survivors Off The Page, Building Bridges (Disability Magaizine) Independence (National collection of themed poetry)
HISTORY 2016 - The Why? Festival - Producer, Curator, Creator, Artist
2016 - Business Development Director - Together 2012 & The Together Disability Arts Market Place
2001 - Present Angryfish Training Art & Empowerment Artist, Disability Issues Consultant & Empowerment Trainer · Recording and production of mixed genre of music to a standard of release/radio quality · Performing original music artist/guitarist ( ex touring band member) · Permission To Speak – Music & Creative Writing Recording Projects - multiple clients · Sound Solutions Creative Writing Projects (Warwickshire CC) · Empowering Disabled People through self realisation and Art · Research into the provision of day services for Older and Disabled People in Wolverhampton and policy recommendations · RADAR National Housing Research Project. – The Implication of The Social Model in Housing Provision and Adaptation services · Research into the need for the Creation of an effective consultation resource with Disabled People. Joint research between Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Health Authority. Report and recommendations · British Council of Disabled People – National Housing Research Project into the long term needs of Disabled People and the concept of lifetime homes · Inclusive Organisational Development Planning and Facilitation (various organisations) · Age Exchange Citizenship Training for Trainers (Warwickshire CC) § Provision of action orientated Disability Equality Training. Clients include: § Dial Nuneaton & Bedworth § Ramsden Centre § Warwickshire Community Education § Birmingham City Council Social Services § Birmingham Women’s Hospital § Dudley MBC Housing Dept § Warwickshire Careers Service § Training the Trainers § Advocacy Training
1999 – 2001 Council Of Disabled People WarwickshireAssistant Director § Operational management of five discreet offices § Overall responsibility for all employment issues § Training of Executive Management Committee § Overall financial management and control § Selling & conducting all external training
Community Development Officer 1997–1999 Social Justice Team, Coventry City Council § Creation and establishment of Disabled Person’s Network. § Business planning and financial Management § Community, advocacy and empowerment training
Freelance Trainer 1993 –1997 Disability Positive, Birmingham § Disability Equality Trainer § Training The Trainers Trainer § Schools Inclusion Project Worker
Pre 1993 International Swimmer / Student Competing in three Paralympic Games and winning 9 Paralympic Gold Medals
Education Bachelors Degree in Philosophy: Birmingham University HNC (University of Central England) in Professional Music Practice City and Guilds Certificate in Adult Education: Stage I and II NVQ Assessors Awards D32 & D33 Certificate in Professional Presentational JMB A Level Equivalents: § English Literature B § Social History B § Sociology B § Psychology B
Holding a current DBS Certicate, Safe Guarding Childern Certificate, Full Driving Licence, plus Public Liability Insurance Cover
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