Overview
Shinewater Court in Langney, Eastbourne, is a residential home run by The Disabilities Trust, for people with a very severe physical disability. All are wheelchair users; some can speak or move a little, others can only communicate with limited facial expressions. A large staff of devoted careworkers takes care of their physical needs; and activity organisers and tutors from the local college provide some learning and recreational opportunities, mostly on a one-to-one basis.
Shinewater Court in Langney, Eastbourne, is a residential home run by The Disabilities Trust, for people with a very severe physical disability. All are wheelchair users; some can speak or move a little, others can only communicate with limited facial expressions. A large staff of devoted careworkers takes care of their physical needs; and activity organisers and tutors from the local college provide some learning and recreational opportunities, mostly on a one-to-one basis.
Compass Community Arts took on the challenge of mounting a drama project
in order to facilitate more involvement and participation in a creative,
group activity. We were aware that the residents had more ideas, more
interests, and more knowledge than they were given the opportunity to
express, so we moved in with a large screen, laptop, digital camera, sony
projector, keyboard and sound beam, and the first ten-week drama project
began. 'The Mystery of Shinewater Hall' based on an imaginary family history,
was the first piece of drama presented to an invited audience in July
2003.
'Dreamscapes' the second project, was presented in June 2004. This piece
was a great improvement from the first, achieving more involvement, more
depth of content, and more sophisticated use of the technology.
A very successful pantomime was staged in December 2004, in collaboration
with Shinewater Primary School. Ten children aged between 8 - 10 played
the orphans in "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" by Norman
Robbins. All the adult parts were played by residents in Shinewater Court.
The show gave great pleasure to audience and participants alike, and helped
to forge new links with the surrounding community.
Plans are afoot to mount a new drama project in 2005, when more funding can be raised. This will hopefully develop the audio/visual aspects of the work which does so much to help the participants realise their full potential, and also helps them to feel a part of the local community.
In February 2005, Compass published a book called 'Images, All My Own Work' by Allen Letchford. Allen, a resident in Shinewater Court, has had cerebral palsy since birth. He has no mobility and is unable to speak. However, Allen has a great artistic talent and enormous determination; he creates his impressions of the world around on his computer, controlling the mouse and keyboard with his chin switch. This publication of several years work was made possible by a 'Can-do' grant from the Scarman Trust.
Exhibitions of Allen’s work have been mounted in the Congress Suite, Via Café and The Space in Eastbourne, and the Circus in Brighton. Prints and cards and copies of the book “Images” are available from Compass on info@compasscommunityarts.org. or from The Space, 10 Cornfield Lane, Eastbourne.
Allen’s work was also featured at this year’s ‘Airbourne’. This is the biggest free airshow in Europe, attracting 5,000 visitors to Eastbourne. Allen’s work was fly-posted in prominent positions on the promenade, and large prints were used as a backdrop in the co-operative hospitality area. Allen was also featured in a BBC South East Today Programme when he was interviewed about his artistic impressions of Airbourne.
A new audio/visual drama project is being planned in Shinewater Court for autumn 2006, based on The Environment to link up with the Round Robin Theatre Project. The Shinewater Drama Group will contribute to the film being made, and share their work with the local Primary School, where a similar environmental project will be taking place.
This will lead to a multi-sensory audience experience involving visual art, performance art, storytelling, and sound, which will take place in December 2006.
Plans are afoot to mount a new drama project in 2005, when more funding can be raised. This will hopefully develop the audio/visual aspects of the work which does so much to help the participants realise their full potential, and also helps them to feel a part of the local community.
In February 2005, Compass published a book called 'Images, All My Own Work' by Allen Letchford. Allen, a resident in Shinewater Court, has had cerebral palsy since birth. He has no mobility and is unable to speak. However, Allen has a great artistic talent and enormous determination; he creates his impressions of the world around on his computer, controlling the mouse and keyboard with his chin switch. This publication of several years work was made possible by a 'Can-do' grant from the Scarman Trust.
Exhibitions of Allen’s work have been mounted in the Congress Suite, Via Café and The Space in Eastbourne, and the Circus in Brighton. Prints and cards and copies of the book “Images” are available from Compass on info@compasscommunityarts.org. or from The Space, 10 Cornfield Lane, Eastbourne.
Allen’s work was also featured at this year’s ‘Airbourne’. This is the biggest free airshow in Europe, attracting 5,000 visitors to Eastbourne. Allen’s work was fly-posted in prominent positions on the promenade, and large prints were used as a backdrop in the co-operative hospitality area. Allen was also featured in a BBC South East Today Programme when he was interviewed about his artistic impressions of Airbourne.
A new audio/visual drama project is being planned in Shinewater Court for autumn 2006, based on The Environment to link up with the Round Robin Theatre Project. The Shinewater Drama Group will contribute to the film being made, and share their work with the local Primary School, where a similar environmental project will be taking place.
This will lead to a multi-sensory audience experience involving visual art, performance art, storytelling, and sound, which will take place in December 2006.
The artist's dream
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© Compass Community Arts 2004
