Member Article

Percy Hedley students get in on the act at Live Theatre

Young people and children from The Percy Hedley Foundation are realising their dreams after getting a chance to create a live performance at Live Theatre in Newcastle.

Isaac Smith, 21, and Charlotte Kemp, 18, from Hedley’s College and students aged from 7 – 17 from Northern Counties School and Percy Hedley School have played key roles in creating ideas, staging and directing a brand new alternative, children’s festive show called Wintry Tales: Snow Covered Maps and Mountainous Mayhem.

The show is scripted by celebrated children’s author Lisette Auton, who is herself neurodivergent and disabled, and features north east performers Maya Torres and Hannah Walker.

It runs from Saturday 9 to Saturday 23 December at Live Theatre on Newcastle’s Quayside and is described by the venue as “proper new writing for kids, as fresh as newly fallen snow and as wild as an avalanche ride (a really safe one!).”

The play brings a host of original, heartwarming stories imagined by children from five local primary schools to theatrical life. Northern Counties School, Percy Hedley School, Caedmon Community Primary, Southwick Community Primary, and Westgate Hill Primary Academy each produced their own fantastical fable for the show.

Isaac Smith, from Whitley Bay, has long had a dream to work in theatre and is thrilled to help direct the production, which took ten months to create.

Charlotte Kemp, 18, from North Tyneside, was heavily involved in staging design and creation and her positive work experience at Live Theatre which has helped her Level 3 Arts course at Newcastle College.

Isaac said: “Working with the guys at Live has helped me to discover what it’s like to work in real theatre and my goal is to work in theatre as a career.”

Isaac’s support worker comments: “Following lockdown, Isaac was very reluctant and anxious to leave the safety of the college premises. But thanks to his Live Theatre experience he is much more relaxed and willing to meet new people and explore new places. The experience has made a huge, positive difference to his outlook on life in general.”

Isaac’s mum, Johanna Smith, told us: “We have noticed a huge change in Isaac’s self-confidence since he began his work experience with the Live Theatre. It has given him a unique opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes when a show is put together.

“He has been involved at each stage of the process, his opinions and ideas have been valued and he has felt like an important member of the team. The Live Theatre staff have been amazing, ensuring that Isaac’s work experience is meaningful and not tokenistic.”

Isaac now sees a career in theatre as a realistic option and wants to learn more about working both as an actor and off-stage roles. He would like to gain further qualifications that would help him on this path.

Lisette Auton said: “I have loved getting to work with loads of ridiculously talented and imaginative school children, and then taking the extraordinary ideas we have come up with together and twirling them into Wintry Tales.

“The cast and creative team are incredible and we’re having great fun making a hercu-flea (who is the size of a cornflake and super strong), the freezer aisle at the Big Tesco, and a Wizard Detective who loves hot chocolate, come to life.

“Expect talking owls, a shape-shifting Pug, and two explorers who need your help to find their way home.”

This new show, generously supported by The Gillian Dickinson Trust, makes a perfect alternative to panto and is a Christmas treat for children and their families. Tickets for Wintry Tales are priced at £12 for adults, and £8 for children and concessions.

The Percy Hedley Foundation was founded in 1953 and has two schools, one college and four specialist residential care homes in the north east which support people with physical and learning disabilities reach their goals in life, as well as providing their families with support.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Percy Hedley Foundation .