235 Contacts and Counting

11 January 2016

Above: Fourth Wall will introduce adults with learning disabilities to the characters and story of Romeo + Juliet ahead of a group trip to see The Watermill’s production together.

With the ducklings becoming less distractingly adorable, I started getting on with some work.  The challenge and opportunity of coming into a brand new post is that you’re working from a blank canvas: freedom to design whatever masterpiece you like, but no helpful paint-by-numbers guidance attached to the pack.

Given that the canvas isn’t going to be for me, I wanted to ask questions of the people it will be for: the community of West Berkshire who, for various reasons, can’t or don’t use The Watermill as their own.  To be able to ask those people, I first had to find them, and so began my epic quest for contacts, and my ever-growing list of organisations, individuals and services who play a part in the lives of vulnerable, hard-to-reach or disadvantaged young people and adults across the county.

Beginning with internet scouring, local newspaper reading and colleague brain-picking, I have now met with nearly 60 potential partner organisations, to find out what’s already happening, to avoid duplication of provision, and to tailor-make new projects.

We know that plenty of people who could enjoy and gain from watching or making theatre face barriers to accessing us.  Maybe they don’t know about us, don’t feel that The Watermill is ‘their thing’, don’t have easy access to transport, and/or don’t have disposable income for tickets or workshops.  My post, generously funded for 3 years by Greenham Common Trust, is about trying to overcome those hurdles to give everyone the possibility of The Watermill feeling like ‘their’ theatre.

My meetings quickly translated into some initial delivery, running 1-2 hour workshops for pupil referral units, care-leavers and mental health service users on communication skills, body language and conflict resolution.  The relationship I have made with the Youth Offending Team has already resulted in two young people achieving Reparation tasks towards their community service court orders and we’ve welcomed a number of vulnerable young people to join us on flexible work experience placements.

Going forward, I have four major projects starting soon:

• Scene Change: monthly drama workshops for adults with mental health needs
• Fourth Wall: an 8-week drama course for adults with learning disabilities to learn all about Romeo + Juliet in advance of watching our main house show together
• LACES Creative Challenge: a February half-term project for looked after/fostered/post-adoption children
• AYT – Mary Hare: an integrated Deaf and hearing youth theatre production in partnership with Mary Hare School

For details about any of the above, I’m contactable on lixi@watermill.org.uk. And I’m always happy to hear from people who think I’ve missed a spot!

Lixi Chivas
Community Associate