We did it!7 months ago
Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.
Free mindful drama workshops for adults creating connection and community, designed for the quiet, introverted and socially anxious. Offered in-person in Lancaster and online for the local area.
"A space to be ourselves". 12 x weekly in-person drama sessions at The Gregson Centre, Lancaster. Also 12 x weekly online drama sessions. Workshops are specially designed for people who identify as introverted, quiet, anxious and socially phobic. The sessions are relaxed, welcoming and encouraging with the following principles: Whoever turns up are the right people.; Whenever you turn up is the right time; Only positive feedback; Join in where you want to; Being positive audience is important too. I have developed these workshops with lots of feedback from previous participants and based in my own experience of anxiety. I am trained as an actor and adapt techniques from acting for use in every day life. There will be no pressure and lots of laughing. Feedback from previous workshops: "It became the highlight of my week" "I realised there are others just like me" "It has reawakened my self-confidence and self-esteem". "Inclusive, accepting, warm, insightful, encouraging, fun".
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
Being part of a creative group activity is beneficial for wellbeing and mental health. There is a sense of belonging, acceptance, social connection. These Drama Workshops offer an opportunity to step outside worries for a while, providing the chance to explore different versions of ourselves. Drama also uniquely provides the roles of actor and audience which gives us a choice of how to engage with the sessions allowing us to look after our own needs, to be our own expert in terms of our emotions, energy, and anxiety levels. Participants can turn up and leave whenever is right for them; take a break if they need to; be present but not speak; be in the online session with camera and mic both off if needed. This means that the specially designed sessions are accessible to people who may otherwise be unable to join groups, be around people, or contribute to a creative project. Previous participants have reported significant benefits to self esteem, confidence, mood, and reduced anxiety.
Steps to get it done:
My drama workshops have been developed in association with Status Employment, (https://www.statusemployment.org.uk/current-and-past-projects/) and above all with input from all the participants who range from quiet and introverts through anxious to socially phobic. I have developed and facilitated versions of these Drama Workshops for over 10 years continually revising according to participants feedback and our shared experience. https://www.statusemployment.org.uk/current-and-past-projects/ Some of the comments over the years: "Supportive, non judgmental, fun". "Uplifting, grounding, refreshing, encouraging, strengthening". "The no pressure environment is really important, you aren't obligated to do anything...you are welcomed whatever". "The drama was such a joy". “It is a space to be ourselves, it’s supportive, as it allows me to be where I am" I have loved working with everyone who has turned up over the years and look forward to meeting many more people.
Gallery
Journey
Follow this project You are following this project for updates to your inbox
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
How will the money be spent?Total £3,134
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 £3,134
Our Volunteer List
Want to help?
Do you have stuff or skills to contribute to this project? Use this tool to offer something to the project creator.
VolunteerI am a trained actor and Applied Theatre Practitioner, specialising in adapting techniques from acting for non-actors.
My vision is to create drama workshops for people who are quiet, shy, introverted or socially anxious. In the mindful drama environment these qualities are valued and we explore what we create when we accept who we are and what we bring. This idea has grown out of my own experience of being a ‘quiet’ person who finds my anxiety in social situations and in group activities prevents me fully taking part, and often stops me even turning up. It is also inspired by my experience of the positive impact on wellbeing of being involved in a creative group activity, and a desire to make these more accessible.
Over the last 10 years I have developed and delivered various drama projects including: Act Yourself Confident community drama workshops for adults; and Confidence Drama in association with Status Employment (https://www.statusemployment.org.uk/current-and-past-projects/). Participants in both projects reported finding the cross-over skills useful in many areas of life including communication, making choices, coping with stressful situations at work or in our personal lives, and simply benefitting from belonging to a creative group. The work with Status Employment was with many people who identified as anxious or socially phobic. We constantly reflected on and redesigned the approach according to experience of the sessions and feedback from participants. During lockdown these workshops went online as Improvisation for Confidence and Connection. This group started at the beginning of Lockdown and continues by request of the participants. In 2021 we made a short film of our lockdown improvisation adventures. https://youtu.be/L6ph9M63n9M We continued meeting online and, with a few in person sessions, co-created another film: https://youtu.be/2n0BbMq_jzY
“Catherine has gathered, learned and devised principles for the groups which allow people to feel safe, to trust their own judgement, to make connections with others and with themselves.”
"I loved how everyone felt at ease enough to join in without there being any pressure to do so".
Training: Permission Improbable, Improbable Theatre Company. Cardboard Citizens (Rainbow of Desires). Theatreworks for Teachers, National Theatre.
Project Owner: Catherine Eaglestone The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
Find me at:
