Autism and Theatre Day - Saba Salman

This is not a blog post of ours - but a very interesting piece by social affairs journalist Saba Salman that is well worth a read, and it even mentions Speakeasy! Click here to read about developments in making theatre more accessible for those with a learning disability:
http://thesocialissue.com/2011/10/autism-and-theatre-good-work-waiting-in-the-wings/

'Visitor' - A smile on the outside and a warm feeling inside! - Andy Reeves

The Spark Children's Arts Festival asked Speakeasy's Artistic Director, Andy Reeves to comment on their forthcoming interactive installation based performance 'Visitor'. 

Speakeasy will be working with Movers, their Learning Disabled Theatre Company, to create a mesmerising interacvtive experience.

Here's what Andy had to say,

"We're tremendously excited about 'Visitor'. We're trying to make a piece of theatre which, though it's imagined, devised and performed by Learning Disabled artists, will be a great audience experience for everyone.

Movers have gained a lot of fans over the last five years, fans of them not just as Disabled artists but as performers full stop. 'Visitor' gives the audience the chance to get closer to the action, interact with characters and technology in a dream-like, woodland setting. Our goal is for everyone - disabled, non-disabled, young, old - to come out with a smile on the outside and a warm feeling inside!

People entering the magical forest world of 'Visitor' will find so much to interact with - characters, technology, 'softer' things like material and colours - but they will be able to join in with as much or as little as they like. It won't be traditional audience participation, where people can end up feeling forced to join in.

What we're trying to do is to create a piece of theatre which really is for everyone. It might be made by disabled people, it might be perfect for a disabled audience - but it can be perfect for everyone else too."

'Visitor' will be premiering on 1st and 2nd June 2011 at 10am, 1pm and 3pm each day, at Embrace Arts, Lancaster Rd, Leicester as part of the Spark Children's Arts Festival. 

Tickets are priced at £5, or £16 for 2 adults and 2 children, and can be booked by calling Embrace Arts on 0116 252 2455.

Movers are Leicester's Learning Disabled Theatre Company, facilitated by Speakeasy, and based at Embrace Arts.

Don’t be fooled by our fooling around! - Luke Anthony Cooke (Freelance Artist)

Come to Southfields library on a Wednesday evening to the Act Up Youth Theatre Group and you will see us having fun and laughing. On the surface it may look like we are ‘playing fools’ but rest assured that this is development of our confidence, our character and exploration of our ideas, thoughts and feelings; strengthening our positions in life and helping us aspire to be the best we can be.

Don’t be fooled by our fooling around. We have fun, laugh and play games. Accepting each other and learning to laugh at ourselves and others which encourages us to be positively critical; offering feedback that is inoffensive yet preparing us for out future careers, life and adult responsibilities.

Together we create an inclusive environment where people can feel comfortable making mistakes – knowing that these hurdles lead us to greater understanding of our peers and the world around us. We solve problems and learn to face challenges – we explore contrasts and conflicts in a spontaneous improvisation that leads us to delve deeper into our capabilities.

We are a group of individuals working together – adding our own unique colour to the palette, as a community we create a masterpiece that best describes our thoughts, feelings and opinions. Our stage is set, our lights are all cued up and rigged and the assistant director is seated in his usual place within the wings. Jenny is pushing the kids into their starting position and Luke nervously bites his finger nails – our platform is ready to springboard our youngest society members to greater and greater successes.

Our community theatre project not only provides our future actors and actresses, but also our doctors, teachers, lawyer, cleaners, mothers, fathers, taxi drivers (and I could go on but I’m sure you get the drift.)

Maybe this isn’t being considered in our current climate where funds are being re-evaluated in places and our efforts are seen as not needed – yet we continue doing what we do – providing what we provide knowing whole heartedly that what we are giving is valuable beyond the numerical figures that we receive and much appreciating the support that we get. We strive forward in our creative army and soldier on with the strong intent to completely enjoy our opportunities and create more opportunities for the future – we are making strong ripples in the sea of success so come and join us in our campaign!