Black Cab Company presents
STILL, HERE
An
audio walking tour in East London
exploring
learning disabled life in lockdown and beyond.
Still, Here is an
audio walking tour, led by Access
All Areas Black Cab Company, a collective of
autistic and learning disabled artists. Still,
Here looks at the artists unique experience of lockdown and will launch on the day when the borough
would normally have celebrated Hackney Carnival on Sunday 13 September - Saturday 31 October 2020, at various locations throughout Hackney.
The project includes
an audio description and video caption and lasts 90
minutes with
stops every 5-10 minutes. The route is accessible by wheelchair.
“LEADING
THE WAY FOR DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS” Evening Standard
In a year when the annual commotion of street
carnivals has fallen silent, audiences are invited instead to visit the streets
of Hackney and hear learning disabled and autistic artists share their
experiences of lockdown, and their hopes for the 'new normal'.
Still,
Here
is an invitation to stop and see through new eyes. It is a love letter to the
places the artists have missed, and a call to action to remember our neighbours
and consider our own places in a post-lockdown world. The event will include
stops at key locations to hear artists’ reflections through spoken word,
recorded conversations and found sound. Audiences will be able to enjoy the
experience in their own time as there will not be any live performers or ushers
en route. Instead, audiences will be guided by signage to stops along the route
and no physical interaction will be required, to ensure that the experience
follows social distancing guidelines.
The production is co-directed by Helen Bryer and Adam Smith.
Adam is one of nine learning disabled
trainee leaders on the Arts Council funded Transforming Leadership programme*
as part of which he co-directs Access All Areas’ Take Part programme. As well
as directing he also leads drama workshops,
writes and performs music. He
has a BMus Classical Music Degree and a MMus Degree in Composition. Adam has
performed and composed for Face Front, Vital Xposure, Mind the Gap, The
National Theatre, Southbank Centre and Emergency Exit Arts.
Helen is Access All Areas’ Director of Take
Part & Train, leading on the company’s participatory work throughout
England. She is the course
leader of Access All Areas' Performance Making Diploma at the Royal Central
School of Speech & Drama. Helen has been Black Cab Company’s director since
2017 and directed ‘Winged’ at
Hackney Showroom in 2019. Helen has also worked for Graeae, The Orpheus Centre
and Half Moon Young People’s Theatre. Sound Design for Still Here is by John
Kelly.
“DEFIANTLY
DIFFERENT” The Guardian (on Access All Areas)
Access All Areas are known for making
disruptive theatre and performances by learning disabled and autistic artists.
Their immersive performance events create intimate moments of interaction
between performers and public, occupying unexpected spaces in venues, on the
streets, and in public buildings.
Access All Areas supports the
artistic development of some of the world’s leading learning disabled
creatives. The award-winning Performance Making Diploma, in
collaboration with the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, is breaking
new ground in training for emerging learning disabled theatre makers.
The Black Cab
Company has always been at the heart of Access All Areas’ work; making shows in
Hackney since 1976. Since 2017 their street performances have opened Hackney
Carnival. Black Cab Company artists are learning disabled and autistic
residents of East London who are passionate about telling unusual stories about
everyday life. Their productions have taken place in London venues including
Hoxton Hall, Rich Mix, Hackney Showroom and Chats Palace, as well as taking
over unusual spaces in East London including Hoxton Street Market and Sutton
House.
Still, Here is an exciting and
unique event that aims to encourage people to go outside and engage in East London. The
production was commissioned by Chats Palace, presented in association with
Shoreditch Town Hall as part of Hackney Carnival.
LISTINGS and BOOKING INFORMATION:
Still, Here has no
set time as the route is self-guided. The tour covers various locations in
Hackney, beginning at Hackney Town Hall and ending at Homerton
Hospital. The entire route lasts approximately 90 minutes, with stops every
5-10 minutes and audiences choose to engage with one, a few or all the stops.
It is recommended to experience Still,
Here in the daytime to enjoy people watching and lunch spots along the
way. There is no need to book Still, Here is FREE. You will need your own smartphone
and headphones then simply scan the QR code
at each stop on your smartphone to begin. A map of the route available on
Access All Area’s website: http://www.accessallareastheatre.org/
Still, Here is for ages 9+ but parents and carers are asked to
consider the interests of individual children. The route is fully accessible by
wheelchair and mobility scooter. Each stop will include audio description that
you will listen to as part of the experience. There will be a video caption for
each stop, accessible via the QR code. An Easy Read visual guide will be
available on the Access All Areas website. For any questions regarding specific
access requirements, please contact hello@accessallareastheatre.org
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