Through his work teaching and supporting young people with multiple sensory impairments and learning disabilities Keith Park has developed a form of interactive storytelling.
In Keith's words: 'The method used is call and response which is an approach many thousands of year old and is still used in various forms throughout the world. The storyteller calls out a line and the other participants respond either by repeating the same words or by calling out a different line, and so on throughout the story. This establishes a rhythmic exchange or communication and provides a powerful momentum that encourages all participants to become involved in some way. Those participants who do not speak can rock, clap, stamp, nod, and of course, sign.'
Keith works with young people and adults in a range of settings including schools and theatres (stages provide a good source of resonance, which is one way of involving people with multiple sensory impairments in the sessions). He also takes groups to settings that suit the theme of the texts being used e.g. Cockney Rhyming Slang versions of the Bible Stories in churches and cathedrals, sea shanties in the Maritime Museum and Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre. The best way to get an understanding of the work is to join a session. Here are some dates of forthcoming sessions Keith is running:
Tuesday 6th Jan - Churchill Theatre - Cinderella
Wednesday 7th Jan - Churchill Theatre - Cinderella
Tuesday 13th Jan - Globe - The Tempest
Wednesday 14th Jan - Westminster Abbey - Bible Stories in Cockney Rhyming Slang
Friday 16th Jan - Globe - Romeo and Juliet
Thursday 22nd Jan - St Paul's Cathedral - Bible Stories in Cockney Rhyming Slang
Friday 23rd Jan - Globe - The Tempest
Monday 25th Jan - Globe - Romeo and Juliet
You need to let him know if you want to go along so leave a message on this site and I can put you in touch with him. See the links on this page for more about his work.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Rewrite Script Writing Competition
I am on the commitee of an organisation called Rewrite. They are running a writing competition for young people. See below for more details:
Rewrite Playwriting Competition for Young People
Theme: We are a better country than this!
OR
Toward the hope of a better day
Age Categories:
11 to 18 years old
18 to 21 years old
Rewrite believes that young people have the power to change the world. We believe that creative writing and theatre can tell strong stories and portray emotional journeys that can really change hearts and minds.
We’re looking for the writers of tomorrow who want to use the power of words to tell us about their lives, their dreams and hopes for the future.
Can you write a short play or monologue (no more than 7 minutes) around the theme, 'We are a better country than this' OR 'Toward the hope of a better day'?
You can interpret this any way you choose. What are the things in your life that are most important to you? Perhaps you’re concerned with safety on the streets, or how people are treated at school or in your community. Perhaps you care about what’s happening in other parts of the world.
It’s really up to you!
If you win, your play will be performed in a rehearsed reading by professional actors at the Rewrite AGM on Thursday 29th January 2009, 7pm, Oval House Theatre, South London.
The competition is open to anyone aged 11-21 living in London.
Deadline: 9th January 2009.
Please read the competition rules & guidelines. For more information, please contact Rewrite on 07709 764420 or email rewritegroup@googlemail.com.
Competition Rules & Guidelines.
1. Entries are free
2. Entries can be from individuals or groups.
3. Entrants must be aged between 11 and 21 and be residents of inner or greater London.
4. Only entries submitted in paper form, or via email will be acceptable. You can submit as many entries as you like, but each should have a separate entry form.
5. Entries should be accompanied by an entry form (attached). The entrants name or details must not appear anywhere on the play itself.
6. Entries must be submitted by 9thJanuary 2009.
7. Winners will be notified by 20th January 2009 and will be expected to attend the rehearsed reading on 29th January 2009.
8. Entries must be no more than 7 minutes in length (roughly 14 pages long or less).
9. Please note, we are unable to return submissions.
10. By entering the competition, you grant the right for Rewrite to produce the play in a rehearsed reading on 24th or 25th November 2007. After this, Rewrite will have to seek your permission to produce your work.
11. This competition is not open to any Rewrite staff or children of Rewrite staff.
12. Rewrite reserve the right not to select winners if it is deemed there is no winning entry.
Please remember you must not include your name and address anywhere on your script.
Please send completed scripts, with entry forms to:
Rewrite
34 Gilesmead
79 Camberwell Church St
London
SE5 7LN
Or email to rewritegroup@googlemail.com
For further information, please call 07709 764420
For further information about Rewrite’s work, please visit: www.rewrite.org.uk
Rewrite Playwriting Competition for Young People
Theme: We are a better country than this!
OR
Toward the hope of a better day
Age Categories:
11 to 18 years old
18 to 21 years old
Rewrite believes that young people have the power to change the world. We believe that creative writing and theatre can tell strong stories and portray emotional journeys that can really change hearts and minds.
We’re looking for the writers of tomorrow who want to use the power of words to tell us about their lives, their dreams and hopes for the future.
Can you write a short play or monologue (no more than 7 minutes) around the theme, 'We are a better country than this' OR 'Toward the hope of a better day'?
You can interpret this any way you choose. What are the things in your life that are most important to you? Perhaps you’re concerned with safety on the streets, or how people are treated at school or in your community. Perhaps you care about what’s happening in other parts of the world.
It’s really up to you!
If you win, your play will be performed in a rehearsed reading by professional actors at the Rewrite AGM on Thursday 29th January 2009, 7pm, Oval House Theatre, South London.
The competition is open to anyone aged 11-21 living in London.
Deadline: 9th January 2009.
Please read the competition rules & guidelines. For more information, please contact Rewrite on 07709 764420 or email rewritegroup@googlemail.com.
Competition Rules & Guidelines.
1. Entries are free
2. Entries can be from individuals or groups.
3. Entrants must be aged between 11 and 21 and be residents of inner or greater London.
4. Only entries submitted in paper form, or via email will be acceptable. You can submit as many entries as you like, but each should have a separate entry form.
5. Entries should be accompanied by an entry form (attached). The entrants name or details must not appear anywhere on the play itself.
6. Entries must be submitted by 9thJanuary 2009.
7. Winners will be notified by 20th January 2009 and will be expected to attend the rehearsed reading on 29th January 2009.
8. Entries must be no more than 7 minutes in length (roughly 14 pages long or less).
9. Please note, we are unable to return submissions.
10. By entering the competition, you grant the right for Rewrite to produce the play in a rehearsed reading on 24th or 25th November 2007. After this, Rewrite will have to seek your permission to produce your work.
11. This competition is not open to any Rewrite staff or children of Rewrite staff.
12. Rewrite reserve the right not to select winners if it is deemed there is no winning entry.
Please remember you must not include your name and address anywhere on your script.
Please send completed scripts, with entry forms to:
Rewrite
34 Gilesmead
79 Camberwell Church St
London
SE5 7LN
Or email to rewritegroup@googlemail.com
For further information, please call 07709 764420
For further information about Rewrite’s work, please visit: www.rewrite.org.uk
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Real Roles
Thinking back to the Heart 'n Soul event, another aspect of their work that inspired me was their work in promoting the creation of 'Real Roles' for people with learning disabilities across sectors. The pioneering work of Heart 'n Soul in employing people with learning disabilities in equal, paid jobs within their organisation and on their events is now being looked to by local authorities and other national agencies as a model of best practice. To me this work, along with their promotion of learning disabled arts practitioners, is really important in changing the way our society views people with learning disabilities.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Heart 'n Soul
I have just returned from the Heart 'n Soul AGM at the Albany in Deptford http://www.heartnsoul.co.uk/. Heart 'n Soul are a leading arts organisation in the field of learning disability arts. They organise fantastic night clubs, provide training and promote and support the artists they work with to develop, perform and tour. Many of their artists performed at the AGM and I particularly loved The Fish Policy: ://www.heartnsoul.co.uk/art_fishpolice.html. I would be really keen to see a project like this built up in South West London, to give the learning disabled artists there the chance to take ownership of their own practices.
The Albany is the base for a range of resident arts organisations, including Apples and Snakes and Entelechy Arts, and is a hub for both arts participation and performance in South East London, definitely worth a visit.
The Albany is the base for a range of resident arts organisations, including Apples and Snakes and Entelechy Arts, and is a hub for both arts participation and performance in South East London, definitely worth a visit.
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