Step into a history few have heard – and even fewer have told.
Unreachable is a bold, imaginative 40 minute documentary feature from Documental Productions, featuring The Pelican Project, narrated by adults with learning disabilities and their carers, reclaiming their heritage with power and playfulness.
Watch the Unreachable documentary film trailer here
The film traces the journey of Documental creating a brand-new inclusive musical – also titled Unreachable – inspired by the extraordinary inspection reports of Dr Mary Sheridan, who exposed the realities of long-stay hospitals for children and adults with learning disabilities. With a mixed cast of learning-disabled and non-disabled performers and the use of Makaton signing, this musical in-development brings the past into the present in deeply moving and accessible ways.
To move the musical forward, the creative team at Documental embedded themselves in sessions at The Pelican Project, with all participants involved becoming aware of the very different perspectives on past treatment of people with learning disabilities, even the ways people identify with their differences. The work in the sessions were a response to Documental’s invitation to share what feels important to them in their daily lives today, using a variety of communication styles, and creatively exploring the history of the long stay hospitals in a sensitively held process.
Dip into some clips with contributors and contemporary heritage gatherers at The Pelican Project
Through drama, art, music, behind-the-scenes moments, and rarely seen archival material, the documentary invites audiences into a process of collective remembrance and radical creativity. Narrated by Pelican Project participant Victoria Constantinou, and shaped by the voices of learning disabled people, UNREACHABLE is both a historical reckoning and a joyful act of resistance.
The film was screened at Exeter Phoenix Studio 74 and at Plymouth Arts Cinema in 2024, with a pre-show talk and short Makaton choir performance. Unreachable has been entered into a film festivals and will be available to stream later in 2025. The project is made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project was made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“The project made heritage more inclusive by centering the voices and experiences of our learning disabled members within a historical conversation that they are often excluded from.“
-Charlie Robinson at The Pelican Project about The Unreachable film process and participant / member response to the heritage.
While some of our members offered verbal reflections, often focused on the emotional resonance and perceived injustices in the story, others expressed understanding through body language, engagement, or questions during sessions.
Importantly, the project surfaced modern parallels for our members—many of whom experience daily limitations on independence and inclusion. For some, history opened a window to articulate what still feels “out of reach” today. This led to meaningful reflection within our team, particularly about the legacy of exclusion and how we frame our own work as part of the ongoing movement towards full community inclusion.
We’ve had strong indirect feedback from carers and family members (about the Unreachable film process). They’ve observed changes in how the young people have processed the project—through increased interest, creative expression, and in some cases, deeper emotional conversations. We’ve also noticed a shift in how some carers understand their own role, with a heightened awareness of the historical marginalisation of learning disabled people and how this might still shape practices today.
From an organisational perspective, the project has had a lasting impact. As Director, it has deepened my understanding of how our work sits within a historical continuum. It has helped reframe our advocacy language—especially when speaking to funders—by emphasising that we are not simply offering activities, but working towards the full, expressive re-integration of learning disabled people into public life. This project reminded us that inclusion is not just a present-tense issue, but something rooted in history, and still unfolding.”
You can find out more about the Pelican Project here The Pelican Project