The Pontefract Family Centre is a local charity that supports people with learning disabilities. This project will be run over six months and aims to increase the opportunity for service users to engage in drama activities and work towards starring in a performance.
People with learning disabilities have been meeting weekly at the centre to take part in drama sessions. During the sessions, they are encouraged to choose and practice a drama piece either on their own or in a group with others, supported by a drama facilitator who runs the group and support workers. They have decided on what they would like to perform, actions during the performance, scripts, costumes and staging.
All the performances will be showcased at a ‘Stars in your Eyes’ show at the Horizon centre at Fieldhead, Wakefield later in the summer.
By taking part in the weekly drama sessions service users have the opportunity to develop tier physical emotional and social skills as well as their cognitive abilities and confidence in the things they can do.
They are also encouraged to make decisions, therefore, giving them a sense of purpose and ownership over their performance and an opportunity to actively participate in a meaningful activity that has a clear structure and end performance to work towards.