Research - Week #5 Together We Can Do It!

"Theatre is about the collective imagination" - Simon McBurney

Today we welcomed two new members to our group and we collaborated.

We invented a game that didn't exist before. We called it "Suspension Ball". We used a ball of wool, a waste basket, two wooden blocks and a couple of bean bags. Each of us brought ideas to the table and collaboratively we came up with the rules. We divided into teams of two.

Three go's each.

If you throw a bean bag over the red line you miss a go.

The game was on.

Screen Shot 2017-11-19 at 13.20.03.png — 10 Second Obeject

We divided into two groups. Women vs Men. We had 10 seconds to collectively create objects with our bodies. Lights, Action, Go!

Screen Shot 2017-11-19 at 14.37.22.png — Explore

Linked together by bamboo sticks we explored the space. We moved as a group around the room. We listened with our bodies.

Screen Shot 2017-11-19 at 13.32.01.png — Connect

How daring can you be? We weaved in and out, moved under and over and made shapes. Full moon. Half moon. Total eclipse.

Screen Shot 2017-11-19 at 14.34.33.png — Unite

We moved in formation. We worked as a team. There was no leader. We played with rhythm and speed. We did some collective giant knitting and communal noodle eating.

A great end to a great session. Sam and Francis shared their break time collaboration with the rest of the group. Not bad for some impromptu rap!

My name is Nathalie Carrington, this is my reflective diary following my research on how a two-way creative exchange between performers with learning disabilities and drama school graduates can impact theatre as a training and communal activity. This research is being done in partnership with LAMDA, University of Brighton and BCH to further understand the benefits of inclusion of learning disabled artists within professional actor training.