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Make Inclusive Theatre online Richmond published their Delivery Report!2 years ago
Delivered 1 December 2021
Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.
By Ignite Me Workshop Theatre C.I.C
Our Disabled facilitators will run workshops online & in the community, exploring participants' lived experiences. We reach out to communities most affected by COVID-19 & they act and perform locally.
Richmond is often perceived as an affluent Borough but this perception masks the reality that the Borough is made up of contrasting communities. There is a disproportionately high number of Disabled, Elderly or chronically ill people. There is poverty as well as wealth: 16 people sleep rough in Richmond at any one time. We have brought together a range of people including Disabled, Elderly and Homeless People, as well as people from BAME backgrounds. We are an Inclusive People's Theatre Company and we work with actors and non-actors to make participatory theatre about the participants' real experiences. We run workshops with the at-risk people we work with and these build to performances that show episodes from people's lives: it is a snapshot of reality, "A Living Documentary". Spectators participate in our productions, which are performed to local community audiences. Before COVID-19, audience participation was by interacting with the actors on stage. Now we have adapted & innovated.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
The project brings communities together by involving local Disabled People, Homeless People, Elderly People and Ethnic Minorities as actors and audience. To devise plays our team use drama therapy techniques, games and exercises, storytelling, voice and movement work to draw out the participants' own stories in a safe and supportive environment. Participants will learn performance skills, have the opportunity to lead workshops themselves, tell their stories and express their creativity and unique artistic talents. An empowering process, allowing participants to connect to their inner voices and make a play that speaks their truth. The performance will showcase the creative ideas of marginalised groups who feel demonised by both the media and government. These are groups that are experiencing increased levels of condemnation, discrimination and isolation due to COVID-19 and enforced shielding. It will be participatory, involving the community audience as problem-solvers & change-makers.
Steps to get it done:
Our performances change spectators' perceptions of "vulnerable" people. Our work has a profoundly positive effect on our participants' mental health. We have received much praise for our workshops and performances. Below is just some of the positive feedback. From partners: "The training was amazing! We would recommend @IGNITEMEWT in a heartbeat. Great real life examples, good discussions and helpful ways we can make sure Marble Hill is a place to welcome everyone. You all deserve every penny and we are pleased to help train our volunteers and staff" - Marble Hill Park. "We’re really pleased to be a part of @IGNITEMEWT as part of the @MertonCIL AGM. Brilliant event!" - Safety Net People First. "A huge thank you to @IGNITEMEWT and their performers Bryony, Emma, Faisal, Adam, Gina and John who delivered an amazing and powerful drama performance highlighting how the pandemic has affected Disabled people - inspired by the actors lived experiences. We will share on YT soon!" - Merton CIL.
Gallery
Location Richmond
About the space
We work with people from across the London area through our online project. We are based in South West London, primarily Richmond and also working in Merton and Hammersmith & Fulham. These are areas that are perceived as affluent, however this perception masks the poaverty that exists and disabled people face the same discrimination as elsewhere
Council
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Journey
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Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
Whoop, 10 people have pledged since fundraising began!
How will the money be spent?Total £4,103
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Overfunding
This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:
Total £4,103
Our Volunteer List
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VolunteerIgnite Me Workshop Theatre is an Inclusive Theatre company specialising in making plays that are based on lived experience. It was set up in 2017 by Bryony Meteyard, a Disabled Theatre for Development Practitioner. We work in partnership with local charities to involve marginalised people in creating theatre that tells the true stories of people who are often excluded, demonised and ignored. Our partners include Ruils, Safety Net People First, Merton Centre for Independent Living and Multi-Cultural Richmond. We are an organisation that is run by and for Disabled and disadvantaged people and our leaders have lived experience of Disability. Our Director and a member of our team were delegates in Inclusion London's Deaf and Disabled Leaders of the Future programme which allowed us to develop our leadership practise. We believe that Disabled People are under-repersented in leadership roles and that's why over 80% of our Facilitators are Disabled People. We support and listen to creative ideas from participants, some of whom have become Facilitators, taking on leadership roles. We have previously been funded by The Mayor of London's Culture Seeds and we received an Arts Council Emergency Response grant but we are now looking for funding to continue our valuable work which is vital for our participants' mental health, well-being, connection and to maintain social contact in these devastating times. We hope to run 6 courses of workshops in the new year, both online and in person when restrictions allow. These will be weekly meetings over four weeks where participants can meet new people, learn new skills and express themselves. Disabled people have been largely overlooked during COVID-19, many of them are shielding and have access difficulties so we will continue our online presence even after all tiers have been phased out. We have been offered sites such as Marble Hill Park, Twickenham Wellbeing Centre and The Exchange where we can continue in person. So far participants have all expressed a desire to continue the workshops and have rated them highly. We would like to roll this out to as many Richmond residents as we can. In the latest poll for our workshops, all participants said they met new people and enjoyed the sessions. The majority also indicated that they learned something new and were given a chance to express themselves in a safe space. Our work is essential in Richmond where the few participatory arts activities that do exist are exclusive.
Project Owner: Ignite Me Workshop Theatre C.I.C The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
