5 minute read
Charity
Get Changed Theatre Company
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The end of 2020 was a real high for all of us involved with Get Changed Theatre Company. After such a difficult and challenging year, we had a performance with a difference; our audience members came from all over the country, from Okehampton and Cornwall, over to the South East and beyond, and it was all Covid secure! This was our very first virtual show.
Digital Tales was our performance with a difference; it was the result of eight months of virtual weekly workshops. Thanks to The Big Lottery Coronavirus Support Fund, Jules, our creative director and her incredible team, pulled it all together, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing practical support from the carers and family members who turned their hand to connecting to us virtually, filming and recording. For those of you who have seen Get Changed before Digital Tales, this would have been immediately recognisable as a Get Changed performance, it had Robin Hood, fun, variety, songs, dance and even an Agony Uncle podcast! Get Changed Theatre Company was founded in 1995, set up to offer adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to build life skills, confidence and self esteem by developing and participating in performing arts. We wanted to raise the profile of the disability community and change public attitudes towards those with disabilities by creating and performing high quality arts projects that left something striking and of lasting value within the community. We’ve certainly achieved that! Over the last ten years we’ve held full performances at Castle Drogo, Bratton Clovelly Village Hall, The Plough in Torrington, The Barnfield Theatre In Exeter and the Ockment Centre. We’ve also performed at festivals including Okehampton ‘Battle of the Bands’, Exeter Respect, Funky Llama in Plymouth and the inclusive D’ArtsFest in Ide. In 2020 our aim was for a full production in Okehampton once more, and before Covid struck we were having conversations with the Charter Hall for our performance in the autumn of 2020 - we’re aiming to perform there later in 2021.
Get Changed isn’t only a Theatre Company, it’s a social and community network, a place where friends meet and share experiences, combating loneliness and isolation and connecting people together with a shared interest. Before March 2020 we met each week in the Ockment Centre sharing, laughing and plotting our next performances. From March 2020 we were worried, although we knew our participants with a learning disability were well cared for and safe. We knew lots of our people understood why it was necessary for us to be locked down but many, because of their learning disability, struggled to understand why they couldn’t go out, go to Get Changed, see their friends and be
Get Changed Theatre Company are looking for new Trustees. We want your enthusiasm and ideas to help support this great small charity grow. Get Changed Theatre Company was founded in 1995 and was set up to offer adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to build life skills, confidence and self esteem by developing and participating in performing arts.
To find out more please contact: info@getchanged.com or visit www.getchanged.com
part of the community. Although much of the world was closed to us all we wanted to respond to our participants by showing consistency in our responsibility to them and their support. At that time we set in motion our weekly virtual workshops and the plan for Digital Tales. We have ambition and want to be able to bring more opportunities to the people we support and more amazing performances to our audiences. To keep developing would not be possible without a trustee board who between them carry out the roles necessary for a successful organisation. Trustees bring their knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm to support our development. Over the next six months we need to introduce a small number of new trustees with such skills in community work and experience of vulnerable people. If you think you can enable us to grow and develop and help us move forward to the next stage in our development please get in touch and we would love to have a chat with you. We also can’t forget the importance of fundraising - the money we are able to raise from grants, sponsorships and donations is crucial, without this we wouldn’t be able to offer our participants these amazing opportunities. Get Changed is one big family of participants, volunteers, trustees, workers and audience members, and sadly early in 2021 we lost one of our most charismatic characters. David Skrpyczak was a founding member of Get Changed back in 1995 and stayed with us until recently. Many local people knew David in Okehampton and South Zeal. He loved to perform, and often took on the lead role in our shows. He was always happiest when it was show day, he loved the audience and they loved him in return. He enjoyed taking centre stage, was always ready to sing and dance and interact with the audience. A true performer through and through. When we are able to return to our weekly workshops at the Ockment Centre we will all miss his infectious smile and laughter. If you would like to be informed about our shows, or you know someone who would like to attend Get Changed, become a trustee or make a donation please email Rob on rob@getchanged. com
Unlocking people... releasing potential UNLOCKING PEOPLE RELEASING POTENTIAL
Supported living for women who have experienced addictions, homelessness, domestic abuse 01837 851240 admin@gilead.org.uk www.gilead.org.uk
Rob Wynne Get Changed Theatre Company
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
We’re looking for volunteers for a variety of roles TRUSTEES & PRACTICAL
To fi nd out how you can get involved call or email Rebecca on 01647 432985 • info@proper-job.org
