Theatre company, Strange Futures, have been running free ‘Theatre in the Making’ workshops at Malvern Cube with the support of a Worcestershire County Council Public Health grant.
The sessions ran for nine weeks and were aimed at a variety of local residents including refugees, asylum seekers and those living with neurodiversity, or a physical or sensory impairment.
Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health at Worcestershire County Council said: “These sessions are brilliant and have had a measurable impact on the health and wellbeing of all those who attend. The workshops provide opportunities for individuals to engage in create arts activities, explore self-expression, develop English language skills and importantly, increase social connections.”
Skully, 29, who participated in the sessions said: “I think this has been a great outlet for me. I don’t get these kinds of opportunities every day. I get to use my creativity and connect with new people. I have already made one friend. The things we have done I would never have thought to do myself. I immensely enjoyed it and find the sessions very soothing and comforting and I think it’s therapeutic. I also like that I have been encouraged as an adult to use my creativity this way!”
William Moore, Co-Artistic Director at Strange Futures, said: “Our Theatre in the Making workshops have been a free and open opportunity for members of the community to come together, make new friends, and get creative! We aim to provide opportunities to engage in inclusive creative arts activities including poetry, ariel movement, disability dance strategies, shadow puppetry and more! A massive thank you to The Cube and to Worcestershire County Council’s Public Health Team, without whom this project simply could not have gone ahead. We at Strange Futures, as well as our collaborating artists, and workshop participants are immensely grateful for your support.”
You can see the sessions in action in the video produced by Strange Futures below:
The Public Health Grant programme provides funding to support community engagement initiatives aimed at improving health and wellbeing.
