Over the past four years, Theatre Royal’s Associate Artists have been working in the community with various partners to stage their unique and special stories at Theatre Royal. During this time, we have worked alongside hundreds of participants and many partner organisations who work in our town improving the lives of people in our community including; vulnerable adult groups, the homeless, women in refuge, people recovering from addiction, young people at YMCA and elders at Suffolk Age UK.

In June these participants will share with us their stories, perspectives and insights through theatre performance, song and an exhibition of visual art.

We are celebrating the creativity that has been taking place behind closed doors and in venues across the town, to make public some of the creativity within our community and invite you to join us.

For many participants, this is the first time they have engaged with creative practice since school days. By working alongside Theatre Royal artists, writers, musicians, visual artists and film makers, participants have now become confident artists in their own right, sharing their personal vision. Come and experience some of the extraordinary work in creation at Theatre Royal, reflecting some of the extraordinary people and organisations in our town.

 

The Other Ends

Thu 20 Jun, 11.30am

 

19^th June

6.30pm – 11pm

The event kicks off with the exhibition launch of Outsid(ers) In, a demonstration of art made by homeless and vulnerably housed guests at the Bury Drop In, led by Jackie Campbell from Rojo Arts.

The day will also feature a natural voice workshop led by Lynn Whitehead before the opening of the new Theatre Royal community production The More Things Change at 7.30pm. Devised by the company, written and directed by Danusia Iwaszko, assisted by Howard Saddler and featuring the Let’s Praise Orchestra.

This very special project in our 200^th anniversary year comes from the saying ‘the more things change, the more they remain the same’. The production explores how different social issues in our society have changed and stayed the same within the past 200 years. The Community Company bring their own lived experience of the themes in the play to bring both an integrity and authenticity that matches equally the beauty and humour contained within the script.

We invite the audience to stay for a post-show reception to enjoy the performances of the stars of Recovery’s Got Talent who will perform live acoustic sessions of original music and covers along alongside inspirational performance poetry from 8.45pm until late.

 

The More Things Change

Wed 19 – Thu 20 Jun

 

20^th June

11.00am – 1.00pm 

Thursday morning sees the continuation of the festival with a print workshop from 11.00 am before a performance of sketches by our elders group Act Your Age titled The Other Ends at 11.30pm, led by Lynn Whitehead and supported by the Make Do and Mend Suffolk Art Link and Ickworth House Volunteers singing groups. Join us after for coffee and enjoy the Outside(ers) In Exhibition produced by the Bury Drop In guests.

 

7.30pm – 11pm

A second and final performance of The More Things Change with Theatre Royal Community Company and the Let’s Praise Orchestra as well as the Recovery’s Got Talent stars post show– so if you missed the performance on day one you can catch it on day two!

 

This extraordinary two-day event shines a light on some of the exceptional people organisations and creative work in our community and celebrates some of the often unexpected and astonishing work undertaken during the past four years.

 

Lucinda Meredith

Associate Artist

 

With special thanks to the partner organisations, funders and supporters: