Come and take part in this!

This is an invitation for you to participate in a brand new production being performed at Lichfield Garrick Studio Theatre, May 9^th & 10^th 2014. We are holding some initial workshops before Christmas for anyone who would like to be involved as actors, musicians or backstage help. Everyone is welcome - if you are unsure if this is for you, then come to the workshops and give it a try!

Based on the theme of temptation.....at the CROSSROADS: The Bible, Burlesque and The Blues .......a piece of theatre that uses the arts of storytelling, blues music and dance to deliver a witty but thought provoking question........................................................what if?

If you would like to come along and be part of this community arts project, led by Lichfield Mysteries and Fired Up Theatre Company then please come along to the workshops:

The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church, Frog Lane, Lichfield

Tuesday 19^th and 26^th November 7-30-9-30 pm

Wednesday 11^th and 18^th December 7-30-9-30 pm

For further details visit: www.lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

www.fireduptheatre.co.uk

or email jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

at the CROSSROADS

Open auditions and workshop opportunities for all abilities to be part of unique performances at The Garrick Studio Theatre in May 2014.

‘Standin’ at the crossroad, risin’ sun goin’ down

I believe to my soul now, po’ Jesus is sinkin’ down

In his hour of need Jesus is about to make a pact with the devil, and if that deal goes ahead what will that mean for the souls of the future?

As part of the build up to Lichfield Mysteries 2015, the company that produced The Wall, Quadrophenia, 23, The Colin Grazier Enigma and The Fell Walker are now looking for budding actors, dancers and musicians to contribute and take part in:

CROSSROADS: The Bible, The Blues and Burlesque.......a piece of theatre that uses the arts of storytelling, blues music and dance to deliver a witty but thought provoking question........................................................what if?

If you would like to come along and be part of this community arts project, led by Lichfield Mysteries and Fired Up Theatre Company then please come along to the following workshops at The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church, Frog Lane, Lichfield:

Tuesday 19^th and 26^th November 7-30-9-30 pm

Wednesday 11^th and 18^th December 7-30-9-30 pm

For further details visit: www.lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

www.fireduptheatre.co.uk

or email jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

                                          

Poets are the nicest people

I've just got back from having a lovely afternoon cup of tea with Gary Longden. Although we have had email communications for quite some time we have never met, so it was lovely to be able to spend some time chatting about poetry, Mysteries and arts related stuff in general. Gary writes poetry, performs poetry and is very passionate about the power of words. He's a leading light in the Lichfield Poets and also writes arts reviews for several blogs, newspapers etc. A while ago, Gary did some excellent workshops at Swinfen HMP&YOI for the Mysteries and he and Mal Dewhirst will be the practitioners for our Changes creative writing project (which will hopefully be underway in the not too distant future).

Catching up with friends

I've just got back from catching up with Friends2Friends. They are such a lovely, welcoming group of people. Their exciting news is that they have just become a registered charity and to celebrate the occasion they had put together and performed  a short drama about the group. This had focused their thoughts on what they wanted to do next May for their 2nd birthday, and was a bit of a 'trial run'. They thought the format worked well so want to stick to the overall plan but alter the content for our work with them. Their activities are structured around five themes: fundraising, life-skills, activities, learning and socialising. They are going to choose one thing from each theme from the past 2 years to turn into a short scene so that they end up with a drama representing what Friends2Friends is all about.
I am going back to see them again at the start of November when we will write down the  5 stories. They are also going to look out some photographs of the events so that we can build up a picture to turn into the drama. We will include some songs as well for those who prefer singing to acting.
I'm really looking forward to seeing them again and hearing their ideas and plans.

Shoebox

I've just got back from having a catch up meeting with Margaret from Shoebox Theatre in Tamworth who are hoping the research and devise their own Mummers Play.

This collaboration with Lichfield Mysteries is one of the ways Shoebox hope to sustain their work with an intergenerational group of vulnerable people. We are looking to run the project in 2014 – they would be working towards an outdoor performance so sometime between May – September? They are very flexible re. dates so we have some breathing space to put the funding in place. We are planning two research sessions and eight rehearsals with two professional practitioners.

It was good to chat 'community arts' with Margaret. It's in the nature of the job that sometimes you can feel a bit isolated (particularly when you are glued to the computer doing funding bids!), so it's helpful to have someone to compare notes and bounce ideas around with.  Fingers crossed for our respective funding bids!

Quick update

Well, it's been a while since I last posted on the blog but I've been busy in the meantime starting to put things in place to make our projects happen. I've applied for funding for one, got funding for another and I'm in the process of sourcing funding for the other two. I have also now found some lovely arts practitioners for all of the projects.
The current plan is that Changes will do their writing project over the winter and have a presentation event maybe around Easter time 2014, Friends2Friends will work on their drama in the new year ready for their presentation in May 2014 and 'At the Crossroads' will begin work in December ready for the performances at Lichfield Garrick Studio on May 9th & 10th 2014.
I'm meeting Margaret from Shoebox Theatre next week to make some detailed plans for their work so watch this space...

Temptation!

Ideas are now really starting to come together for our work with Tamworth Repertory Company. We are planning to engage participants in devising a new piece of work on the theme of  temptation involving writing, drama, music and film - working title 'Crossroads' - although our participants may have other ideas! We are looking at starting work in October with some introductory workshops and will be looking for participants to contribute to all aspects of the performance including acting, performing music, writing lyrics, costume, front of house, programme and leaflet production and any other aspect where the community can be involved  in its creation and performance. Provisional performance dates are the 9th and 10th May 2014. Watch this space and check out the Lichfield Mysteries blog, website, Facebook and Twitter for more details of the project and how you can get involved.

Changes write creatively

It's a little while since I first visited Changes at the Old Mining College in Burntwood, in fact it was cold and snowy and today we are having a heatwave. It wasn't actually that long ago - crazy British weather!
The group decided that they would like to do some writing, possibly, but not necessarily, poetry; we would like to keep our options open at the moment. The group at Burntwood will have around 5-6 clients. Interest in the project at Lichfield Changes was less than Burntwood but having chatted to Samantha Follows, I felt it would be worthwhile still  operate the project with both centres. Some clients are happy to go to either venue whilst some prefer to stay at their 'home' venue. Samantha and I discussed the possibility of alternating the venues for workshops and structuring the project such that clients could go to either or both venues.
We thought it would be good to have some kind of presentation event to mark the end of the project, probably using the Lichfield venue which is larger and would be more suitable. As the clients do not necessarily want to present their own work, I will approach some previous Mysteries participants and ask them to volunteer when the time comes.
 Changes are flexible as to the timing of the project but we want to aim for late autumn/winter. The clients find the winter months more difficult and it would provide a focus.
The practitioner we use will have to be reasonably flexible to coordinate sessions with the Changes timetables in both Burntwood and Lichfield. We discussed the possibility of members of local writing groups assisting with the project as volunteers. This would obviously depend on what the groups ultimately choose to do. We also talked about doing some collaborative group writing.
It is all still very flexible so the next step is for me to talk to some writing practitioners and ask them to come up with proposals for workshops to facilitate the project. Some funding is in place for this project but I may need to source some more, depending on the practitioners costing.
It's good to be able to start to move forward.

Progress report

So, I now have four lovely groups of people who are keen and eager to take an active part in the arts. They are all  new to Lichfield Mysteries, and the majority of them are also new to performing or writing -  excellent! A fifth group is in the offing but I still need to meet with them and discuss their needs and ideas. I'm feeling really pleased to have got this far and excited about the projects we are planning. (And the sun is shining !!!!)
I have been spending my time drawing up project proposals and budgets and trawling through potential funding sources. I have a few ideas so, however sunny it is in the garden and however exciting the Wimbledon final gets I can spend some time at the computer working on funding bids. Might enjoy the odd bowl of strawberries whilst I work though...

Friends2Friends

I had a lovely time meeting the Friends2Friends group at Cruck House in Lichfield this morning.

Some of my new friends gather for a photo

We spent an hour chatting over coffee, discussing what type of drama production they would like to do and when to do it. There were lots of ideas from pantomimes to local history stories but eventually the group decided it would be good to devise a piece about Friends2Friends and some of the things they have done since their formation. They decided to aim for a performance as part of their 2nd birthday celebrations in May 2014. They are keen to include some music, comedy and possibly dancing, and there were lots of suggestions as to what Friends2Friends landmarks could be included - they are such an active group there will be no shortage of material!
As a next step, they are going to sketch out a few ideas for scenes which would illustrate what Friends2Friends is all about. As well as using this to celebrate their birthday they also talked about being able to use it as information about the group and maybe performing it elsewhere in Lichfield to raise their profile in the City.
What a lovely bunch of enthusiastic people - I'm really looking forward to visiting them again soon!

Simon and Mal: Part 2

Another lovely chat with Simon and Mal. Since we last met they have had a think and come up with some fabulous ideas for a theatre/poetry event around the theme of  'Temptation'. The more we chatted the more possibilities sprang to mind including forum theatre and film. The idea is to use a mix of participants; inviting some previous Lichfield Mysteries participants to work alongside people from Tamworth involved in their recent production of Quadrophenia (who would be new to the Mysteries), and people who are completely new to performing; aiming for an intergenerational, multi-cultural performance.
We also discussed performance spaces and the possibility of performing in both Lichfield and Tamworth in around 12 months time.
It all sounds very exciting!!
Congratulations to Simon and Mal on their recent Quadrophenia production. Read about it here.

South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Arts for Health

This morning I went to visit the Arts for Health team at  St George's Hospital Stafford.  St George's Hospital, part of the South Staffordshire and Shropshire Health Care Trust, is actually a combination of two historical hospitals—the Kingsmead Hospital (previously an elderly care facility) and the St George's psychiatric hospital. It provides mental health services, including an intensive care unit, secure units, an eating disorder unit, an EMI unit for the elderly and mentally frail, drug and alcohol addiction services and open wards. The Arts for health Team, Eleanor, Jessica and Helen work with both in-patients and a variety of out-patient groups both at St. George's and further afield across South Staffordshire and Shropshire. Having done a lot of visual arts, music and creative writing they felt that drama would be an area that they would like to extend their work in. We also discussed dance as they have not done very much work there either.
Armed with a few ideas, they are going to have a chat with potential groups and we can then start to make some plans.
Thank you Eleanor and Jessica for making the time to see me, making me so welcome and giving me an opportunity to explain what this project is all about.
I'm looking forward to hearing from them soon.

Shoebox Theatre

Katie Morag Stories

I have had a lovely chat with Margaret from Shoebox Theatre in Tamworth, a not-for-profit community interest company run by community volunteer directors. They work with people of all ages and abilities to develop ideas and practices both in community settings and local schools. they are currently doing an interesting intergenerational project after doing research on local World War I stories.The group is largely made up of vulnerable people and the work is being developed through improvised sketches.  

Billeting the evacuees

Against the wind

Shoebox are keen to keep this group going so we are looking at the possibility of researching and doing a Mummers play with them, for outdoor performance. The group would then be well placed to take on one of our Mystery plays in 2015.

Community Arts in Cannock Chase District

Today I went to Chase Leisure Centre to meet Lisa Shephard and Kerrie Jones, of the Arts, Health and Well Being team. which is managed by Wigan Leisure Culture Trust. Two enthusiastic ladies who are passionate about using the arts to increase the health and well being of the people of the Cannock Chase District.

Communities within Cannock are still very much based around the traditional but now defunct mining areas. Each had their own pit, their brass band and their identity and people are still reluctant to travel from one area of Cannock to another. New manufacturing industries have not replaced the pits; traditional manual work is in short supply with new industries being based in the service sector. We discussed the possibility of doing an arts and well-being project in the Blake area of Cannock to help build capacity within this community. This is an area Cannock with a lack of literacy skills and academic aspiration and a high incidence of alcohol and substance misuse. Work has been done here previously by the Cannock team; it has been thoroughly consulted and connections are in place which would enable Lichfield Mysteries to do projects in this area. They are currently compiling a Reaching Communities funding bid for a three year programme of work in Blake and other areas of Cannock Chase District.

It was lovely to meet such committed and enthusiastic people who care so much for the communities in which they live and work. I am looking forward to further discussions and planning some exciting community arts projects with them.

Every little helps

What a smart green car...

I've just got back from meeting with Laurence Shenker, Lichfield Tesco's Community Champion. Tesco employ 300-400 people at this store, making it one of Lichfield's largest employers. They operate on a variety of shift patterns so large numbers of the workforce are unknown to each other. Part of Laurence's remit is to encourage staff activities and the social committee have organised several competitions - Easter egg decorating, poster making etc. These have not been overwhelmingly supported and Laurence has concerns about whether we could motivate people to take part in an arts activity. I think this sets us a challenge!
Laurence is going to sound out the staff and see if there is any response and I am going away to think of arts activities which might appeal and projects which individuals could perhaps contribute to over a period of time creating a collaborative piece.
I will also contact other Tesco branches in the target areas - we might be able to do a project all together.

Hmmmm...thinking caps on....

Simon and Mal

I've just got back from afternoon tea in the Lichfield Garrick Green Room with Simon Quinn and Mal Dewhirst, two lovely gentlemen who areas  passionate about community arts as me. Brilliant!
Simon is Director of Fired up Theatre, devising and delivering performance projects with people who do not usually access the arts. They do lots of intergenerational work breaking down social barriers and challenging perceptions and are very keen on partnership working. Amongst many other projects, together with Mal Dewhirst, Simon was responsible for The Wall, Tamworth's largest community production to date based on Pink Floyd's album and they are now both working on Quadrophenia as a community piece for performance in May 2013.
Mal is a poet, writer and film maker and is Staffordshire's first Poet Laureate. Mal's ideas for poetry in Staffordshire are really innovative and accessible.
.
Together they make a great and multi-talented team.We had a lovely chat about multi-disciplinary art works; they have used projections, sound installations and textile work in previous projects, all of which would be an exciting new adventure for Lichfield Mysteries. Being well established in Tamworth they have made lots of contacts with all kinds of people and are thinking about potential participants and work which we could do in partnership to extend community engagement with Lichfield Mysteries in the Tamworth area.

I like nothing better than a cup of tea and a good conversation about community arts!

Friends 2 Friends

Today I had an excellent meeting with Alison Wellon from Friends 2 Friends. This is a user-led group of adults with learning disabilities which has been up and running for just a year. It was formed to provide social opportunities for those people involved in COGS - Cherry Orchard Gardening Service and goes from strength to strength. Friends 2 Friends meet at the lovely Cruck House in Lichfield and the service operates as a free drop-in centre 6 days each week. It aims to give people the confidence to lead more independent and active lives and enables users to make real friends with which to share social activities.

 

Cruck House

Friends 2 Friends provides opportunities to improve life skills such as cooking and ironing, and through volunteer support enables users to organise themselves in a range of activities. Courses such as horse riding, computing, graffiti art and sugar craft have been held in the past twelve months as well as several fund raising activities, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, Children in Need and Comic Relief.

They are very keen to get involved in drama, dance and music activities so I am looking forward to meeting the group next month to have a chat about what they would like to do.

I really do love my job - what an inspiring group of people!

Meeting people - what a brilliant way to spend the day!

On Tuesday 26th March I visited my first contacts.
I started the day with a cold and snowy drive to the Old Mining College in Chasetown where I had a lovely chat with Samantha from the Changes organisation.

Old Mining College, Chasetown

Changes is a Staffordshire based registered charity, run mainly by service users and volunteers, providing a service that promotes mental wellbeing and recovery in a safe and friendly environment. Read more about it here http://www.changes.org.uk/
They are providing a fabulous service and are keen to have a go at an arts activity. The service users are going to discuss what they would like to do. We also talked about the possibility of linking the work with other Changes groups in Lichfield, Tamworth and Burton. I think this could become a really exciting project and it has lots of possibilities for extending the work beyond the initial project.

Later on I went to visit the Tamworth Arts Development Team, a very hard working trio of ladies who gave me some very useful suggestions and contacts.

Tamworth Assembly Rooms

There is a lot of good arts work going on in Tamworth - it is to my shame and embarrassment that I am not more aware of it - although I don't think that I am alone in this! It is amazing how parochial we can be; if Lichfield cannot supply what we want we tend to look to Birmingham, when there is lots of interesting stuff right on our doorstep. I think some county-wide coordination in the promotion of the arts would be helpful in all sorts of ways. More joined up thinking across Districts is required on this - we are really not making the most of what we already have. See here to find out how to keep up to date with the arts in Tamworth http://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/arts-activities/artswitch

Many thanks to Elanor, Laura and Hannah in Tamworth and Samantha in Chasetown for giving up their precious time and making me feel so welcome.

One week on

I have had several positive responses and will be going to meet with both the Tamworth and Cannock Arts Development teams and the friends2friends group in Lichfield. I've also had a positive conversation with the Arts for Health team at South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust. I feel I am making some good contacts both for this project and the future of Lichfield Mysteries.
I have sent out information to several other community groups including Changes and Forward Action Burntwood so I'm hoping to hear back from them very soon.
I still need to investigate large companies. A workplace group would be an interesting development - watch out Gareth Malone!

The first contacts...

I have contacted the Arts Development Officers at Lichfield District, Cannock Chase District, Tamworth Borough and East Staffordshire District Councils. All lovely, enthusiastic people! Hopefully they will make some useful suggestions for potential participant groups. I have sent them more detailed information which you can read here:
Community Engagement Project Info

24 hours later I have the first positive responses - excellent!

Starting the research...

The first step of this project is to identify communities with which to work. I have spent quite a lot of time this week pouring over statistics and data relating to deprivation in Lichfield District, Cannock Chase, Tamworth and Burton upon Trent. Interesting reading. I really want to recruit some new Mysteries participants from areas of greatest need, as well as from areas where the Mysteries has had little or no previous input. Unfortunately and sadly,  there is no shortage of electoral wards to choose from. It's important to be realistic;  I'm aiming to recruit 5 new groups of participants as otherwise the practical constraints of time, our capacity to carry out projects and funding would make it difficult to succeed.

 I have started by compiling a 'hit- list' of potential wards based on information taken from the following websites: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/ 

http://www.staffordshireobservatory.org.uk/IAS/dataviews/report/fullpage?viewId=306&reportId=239&geoId=20&geoReportId=2817

These resources contain a huge amount of information. I've use statistics on the percentage of people within an electoral ward with no economic inactivity, no qualifications and numbers of benefit claimants from the NOMIS website and referenced them with indicators for multiple deprivation from the Staffordshire Observatory website. These indicators include deprivation in respect of income, employment, health, education, housing, crime, environment, children and older people.  This information can be found here.

Information on the indices of Deprivation, taken from the Summary Cards for each district, found on the Stafforshire Observatory website, is contained in this document, National Indices of Deprivation.

I have already discovered alot about these districts. These maps give a clear overview of the statistical information:
 Lichfield District map
Cannock Chase District map
Tamworth map
East Staffordshire map


I have also improved my statistical analysis skills and my computer skills - I am already enjoying using this blog as a way of communicating and recording my progress. More to follow soon...