SURVIVAL KIT – A THEATRICAL GUIDE TO SURVIVAL IN THE 21STCENTURY
Paul’s got 20 years’ worth of ‘NOW That’s What I Call Music’ albums; Lorraine can’t live without her phone; Callum has a water pistol and a whoopee cushion; Zara has a stack of programmes from her favourite musicals that she’s very attached to.
This is Survival Kit – a new piece by Artists and Students from Mind the Gap Academy that debuts at The Studio, Bradford Theatres on Thursday 19 July.
Survival Kit asks questions about what we need to survive, and what we can’t live without.
Each of the 10 actors has a box containing their chosen must-have items – the essentials of life that enable them to function properly; family, friendship, shelter, acceptance and chocolate.
Actor Paul Bates says, “I have been on a journey with the Survival Kit process. Devising together using our own life stories and what Survival is to us, means the piece is really personal to me. It makes you laugh and feel sad and really makes you think what is important to you.”
Survival Kit has been devised by Academy Director Charli Ward, based on ideas contributed by the performers, and is choreographed by Karen Bartholomew.
Director Charli Ward says, ‘It has been fantastic devising Survival Kit. The actors have contributed some brilliant answers to the question ‘what can’t you live without?’ – ‘living close to my family’, ‘taking that first sip of coffee in the morning to get me through the day’ and seeing people smile.’ We have all begun to appreciate even the small things that get us through life!’
Mind the Gap, one of Europe’s leading learning disability theatre companies, has been developing the skills of the Artists and Students in the show through the Academy, which offers a range of programmes and accredited courses.
Survival Kit is at The Studio Theatre, Bradford (adjacent to The Alhambra) on Thursday 19thJuly at 7.30pm
Book online at bradford-theatres.co.uk or call 01274 432000
For more information on Mind the Gap visit mind-the-gap.org.uk or email Deborah Dickinson[email protected]