Looking back at Tales Of The Sea
Over autumn 2021 Elevator Arts worked with innovative day care service Project 49 in Southend to deliver Tales Of The Sea - a drama project with adults with learning disabilities.
Tales of The Sea engaged participants in learning new creative skills such as performing with masks, mime & puppetry to tell their own stories & share their experience of living by the seaside in a celebration of their hometown & community.
The participants worked with artists, Hannah Brailsford (Spinning Yarns Theatre) and Bernadette Wakeling (The Complete Commedia Company) and Thomas Mason to create a joyful & uplifting piece of performance.
“It made me feel really great - happy. I have laughed alot, the teachers all listened to my ideas, no ideas were bad.”
“All the group really became energised by the sessions after 18 months of restricted activities due to Covid”
“I liked wearing the masks because it was fun & you could be someone else.”
“I want to say a huge thank you for approaching me in the first place and your inspiration and vision... All the people you brought into the project were amazing and it was a great collaboration.”
Due to Covid restrictions the group could not perform to a live audience but during the project we were excited to be joined by Film 49, where Project 49 service users, supported by Ian Chapman, captured the groups’ every move on film.
The film created by Film 49 documenting the participants’ journey during the project will be shown at The Big Screen Southend this spring, so watch this space for more details coming soon!
Tales of The Sea was gratefully supported through funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, players of the People’s Postcode Lottery through the Postcode Places Trust and Southend Emergency Fund.
All photos: Film Free Photography
