Robert Softley Gale is an established figure in the Scottish arts scene, with over eighteen years of experience in diverse and varied roles – including disability rights activist, actor and performer, writer, artistic director and supporter and advocate of equality of access to the arts for disabled people whether as artists or audiences.

A graduate of Glasgow University with an MSc (Hons) in Business & Management, Robert is an Artistic Director of Birds of Paradise Theatre Company, Scotland’s touring company that promotes the work of disabled artists in partnership with non-disabled artists and mainstream theatre venues and companies.

Robert has delivered equalities training on an international level and carries out organisational development programmes across the UK. Robert also sits on the board of the National Theatre of Scotland.

At the core of Robert’s working practice is a belief that by creating key partnerships, we can develop an arts sector in Scotland that is inclusive of disabled people and that reflects the society in which we live.

"At BOP we're aiming to make the company as accessible as possible for the artists we work with and the people we employ - access for us is frequently related to disability but it's also wider - we frequently say that everyone has access requirements. As a parent to young twins, I've become acutely aware of the pressures placed on working parents in the performing arts sector - I really hope that by working with PiPA we can help to ease these."