The Lewisham Project engages individuals and communities across Lewisham through artistic events and street theatre interventions. Through this project local people get to: • Find out about events and community activities happening in their area from our street theatre characters the Usherettes • Enjoy high quality arts and culture on their doorstep at Lewisham Late Events • Participate in professional theatre productions as part of our Community Chorus programme This project seeks to bring communities together, offer opportunities to connect to new friends and neighbours, develop skills in performance and social engagement and celebrate the local businesses and community groups working in the Borough. We are able to carry out a small amount of this work currently, targeted at particular Wards, and with more funding would be able to spread it throughout the whole of the borough, and ensure that as many residents as possible get access to what we can offer.

What we'll deliver:

• 18 Extra Usherette Street Theatre Sessions across the borough
• 4 Larger scale Lewisham Late Events
• 5 Community Chorus workshops.

Why it's a great idea:

Lewisham is an amazing place - with arts and community events happening throughout the borough. But often organisations running these events aren't able to spread the word so people know what's going on. By opening conversations with people our friendly street theatre characters the Usherettes can highlight what is on offer in Lewisham: With their wide local knowledge they can inform people about what is taking place in their area, as well as finding out what people would like to see more of. They can also connect people with each other and with local organisations. Lewisham Lates bring high quality arts events right into the heart of communities. Previously these have included a Faery Den in Mayow Park, Shakespeare returning from the dead to the streets of Forest Hill and Singalongs in a Hither Green cafe. Teatro Vivo's Community Chorus programme gives opportunities to local people to take part in professional theatre productions. Great on the CV and for learning new skills!

Steps to get it done:

• Book in 18 extra Usherette sessions to take place across all 18 wards
• Book in 4 Lewisham Late partners
• Run 5 Community Chorus Workshops

Teatro Vivo has been working at the heart of Lewisham for the last 10 years. We have great networks and connections to organisations Borough wide and beyond, which allows us to have our fingers firmly on the local pulse! We love to bring local people together, and this funding for all 3 strands of the Lewisham Project will allow us to do this better than ever before! Here are some things that people have said about our community programmes: "It was so lovely to have something so imaginative, amusing, engrossing and exciting happening in the centre of Forest Hill reaching such a wide audience." - Quetta Kaye - Forest Hill Society "Working as part of the community chorus, on a personal level - it gave me the confidence I’d lost following a number of disappointments in my work and personal life. I’ve got my Mojo back” - Steve Cox, Community Chorus member.