StrathCross

Strathcross was one of the Borderlines groups which I was most worried about. As it was completely different to any group I had worked with in the past. It is a group for adults with learning disabilities, some have more severe needs than others. I think it society there is a certain judgement and prejudice which people with these needs have attached to them, and it is not acceptable, but until you work with a group like this I doubt people would change their minds. Which is why groups like these are so important so the adults can go and express themselves, and feel like they belong and like they are accepted. 

 I was only able to work with this group for two sessions as unfortunately it clashed with my 'day job', luckily I had these two weeks off, but then I had to return to work and wasn't able to see this group. I am glad that I had the opportunity to work with this group. It is an extremely large groups with lots of people and personalities, but somehow they all gel together. 

1.     Tuesday 13^Th March 2012, 1.30pm-3.30pm: 2hours

2.     Tuesday 20^Th March 2012, 1.30pm-3.30pm: 2hours

In the first session which Sue led, we played a few games, mainly some ice-breakers and name games, and one that I am particularly familiar with called 'Liar Liar'. I know it as 'What are you doing?', everyone stands in a circle and one person goes into the middle and mimes doing an action such as brushes their teeth, the next person goes into the circle and asked them what they are doing, to which the person must reply with something different to what they are acting out, such as walking to dog, they then leave the circle and a the new person mimes the action. It can be fun for giving everyone a turn and encouraging people who are a little shy.

We then spent the rest of the session preparing a waltz which was going to be a centre focus for their show back. I was immediately involved and in groups of eight we learnt a simple waltz dance which they all enjoyed.

For the second session, we had two other practitioners who usually lead the sessions but who had been away touring a production around local schools, Filiz and Julianna who led this session.

We started with a re-cap of what we had done last week showing them the dance we had produced whilst working with Sue, and of course we played some games. We then produced some mime work in pairs, one person put their hand up and another followed it like a puppet and puppet master. We then worked in small groups and picked an emotion and a place from some cards Filiz had prepared and then had to make a short scene involving these things. In my group we had sad and a volcano. Seemingly random, but we created a scene where the volcano was a 'tickerly' one and the people involved were sad to have to leave it.

The group were once again really welcoming, I think all groups at the New Vic are used to new faces, as they always have new volunteers and people on work placements. But with these groups whom have more specific needs it can sometimes disrupt them, and they sometimes do not cope well with change. But they were all very inquisitive, introducing themselves and asking about me, which was really nice. It can be awkward at the beginning of sessions to know what to do and how to get involved, like with these I was rather quiet and sat down at the begging but soon got involved with the group all of whom were really lo9vely and worked really well together. This kind of work as I have said many times before is so rewarding and truly makes you realise the power which theatre can give to people increasing their confidence levels and sometimes their life skills, and I think that everyone should experience it if they are given the opportunity because it is nice to be in an environment where everyone is equal and no-one passes judgement.