We are a diverse and creative company of people with disabilities based in Leatherhead, Surrey. We work alongside directors, producers, composers, artists and writers, to co-create and produce engaging, thought-provoking, funny, joyous and highly entertaining theatre, dance, film, and music.

For over thirty years we’ve been a force for change and artistic excellence in the world of Disability Arts.

With locations across Surrey, we make theatre, dance, film, music and visual art that challenges perceptions and defies expectations.

Our person-centred, creative process and the friendly, communal Freewheelers atmosphere creates an environment where our members’ confidence, independence, social skills and self expression can thrive.

Every week is packed with creative workshops where members come together to share their creative talents, learn new skills and work towards a new performance, film or piece of art.

Freewheelers is a home from home for many of our members (some of whom have been with us for almost three decades!)

A day with the Freewheelers is a chance to meet friends, chat, laugh, have fun and be yourself! #WEAREFREEWHEELERS

We are proudly supported by

We are freewheelers

For further information on the workshops that we offer, simply click on the dropdown menu opposite.

If you have any further questions or would like to join us for a free taster session then please give a call or drop us an e-mail.

WORKSHOPS

We offer three Dance workshops each week:
Tuesday 10am-12pm The Lighthouse, Church Road, Leatherhead.
Thursday 10am-11:30am at The Mencap Hall in Leatherhead.
Thursday 1-3pm at Cobham Village Hall.
To learn more about our Dance workshops please click here
Our Drama workshop runs on a Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm at The Lighthouse, Church Road, Leatherhead.
To learn more about our Drama workshops please click here
Tuesday 10am-3pm we run our Media workshops from The Lighthouse, Church Road, Leatherhead.
To learn more about our media workshops please click here
We offer two Music workshops a week from The Lighthouse, Church Road, Leatherhead.
Song Writing & Soundscaping, Tuesday 10am-12pm.
Music Group Workshop on Friday from 10am-12pm.
To learn more about our music workshops please click here
Our Visual Arts workshops take place online via Zoom and these run every Friday from 2-4pm.
To learn more about our Visual Arts workshops please click here
We also offer Youth workshops from 14 years and up and these run Monday 5:30-7:30pm.
To learn more about our Youth Theatre workshops please click here

FREEWHEELERS SAY

David

"To me Freewheelers means caring, taking turns and not interrupting others. I love working with other people. My favourite moment at Freewheelers was when I got to play Charlie Chaplin, I liked playing him because he’s funny and I’m funny!”
Zena

“I wanted to join Freewheelers because the whole idea of me moving was to get into theatre and Freewheelers was the best place for me. At first they were strangers then they became my friends and after 8 years they have become my family.”
Nick

“To me Freewheelers is a big community where we all help each other achieve what we want to in life. My favourite memory is performing in Destiny Betrayed where I portrayed a sergeant in the army.”

We were excited to welcome His Royal Highness, The Duke Of Edinburgh to Freewheelers on Wednesday 6th March 2024!

As part of The Duke of Edinburgh’s big birthday week celebrations, His Royal Highness joined The Lord Lieutenant, Michael More-Molyneux, and representatives from the Orpheus Centre, Bloomin Arts and DAiSY (Disability Arts in Surrey) at our new home, The Light House Parish Church Hall.

During the visit The Duke and guests were invited to view a display of tintype photographic portrait prints recently created with photographer Emma Brown as part of a project called Us & Them. Eight Freewheeler artists who, with support from Surrey History Centre’s Julian Pooley and Dr Alana Harris from UCL, researched nineteenth-century wet-plate collodion photographs and glass-plate negatives that were originally generated in Surrey’s psychiatric (and learning disability) institutions. By re-staging and provocatively ‘pairing’ portrait images of Freewheeler company members with the original Victorian photographs, these heritage objects are re-purposed for stigma-dispelling and restorative justice purposes and celebrate our experiences and agency in making and sharing art.

The Duke was invited to take part in a puppet making session by company member Nick Russell based on a Surrey Hills Arts community celebration hosted by the National Trust. Next it was across the road to the beautiful 1,000-year-old parish church, to join a music workshop, which in based on the use of modern iPad technology enabling Freewheeler wheelchair users to create and compose their own music and soundscapes. Following on from the music workshop, The Duke was invited forward to the front of the church by Abi Williams, a member of the Freewheeler dance company to join the Wonderdusk murmuration dance.

All our guests followed by a rousing rendition of happy birthday to The Duke, ahead of his 60th birthday on Sunday 10th of March.

We would like to thank HRH The Duke OF Edinburgh for taking the time to join us, sharing his birthday celebrations.