News: Schools

Our statement about Creative Scotland's funding and how it is affecting the children's theatre sector.

“Creativity needs trust to flourish. Learn each other’s worlds. Build the art in a way that demonstrates you know their world” Anne Basting

For the second part of the FRAMES residency I wanted to go bolder, include more of the pupils and have more visual impact on the school environment. This was inspired by my trip to Milwaukee (as part of my Churchill Fellowship) to spend time with the incredible Anne Basting of Timeslips.

This week I was delighted to start a pilot artist residency with Imaginate, embedding me for the term in St Crispin's school, which is for pupils who have severe needs (mainly non-verbal) on the autistic spectrum. This means a completely different way of working, which is primarily sensory. I knew this would be really challenging, but also fascinating to have to take theatre out its comfort zones and be forced to reimagine what it can be and do in this context.

I’m over half way through my writer’s attachment and I’m pleased to say I’ve written some words. 4, 571 to be precise. The story I’m writing is a true story. There is a man in Aleppo, Syria, who chose to stay in the thick of war to care for abandoned cats. He wants to resist war by showing compassion and love for life. I like that. But with the story already out there, I need to add my own twist.