A spider captures a leopard who has been stung by a sleeping bee
by Nic Vogelpoel
Sense has a long and proud history of supporting arts and cultural activities, and the work of deafblind artists. All around our organisation Sense artists are making incredible art every day. In our resource centres, residential services, branches, networks, forums and groups, Sense artists are exploring creativity and making important contributions to our shared cultural heritage.
As a way of introducing our new national arts strategy, I thought I would showcase the work of a drama group based at Providence Court in Exeter. Senior MSI Practice Adviser, Tracy Girling has been working with dramatherapy students for the last year developing the programme, and on their last session before Easter break, the group invited me along for a sneak peek.
The sessions, led by Kate, start with an expressive check-in process where each participant uses percussion, sound and gesture to introduce themselves and their willingness to participate with the group.
The group work with multi-sensory techniques and have spent the past ten weeks exploring characterisation and storytelling. The story is completely devised and led by participants, and the ending evolves with each retelling.
The story starts when a spider captures a leopard who has been stung by a sleeping bee while escaping from a slithering snake. Luckily, a monster appears to resolve the disharmony, and then they all eat cake! Well, that’s what it might look like at first glance. In fact, the group have been working with different props, costumes and set-pieces to create immersive and fictional environments.
Within the sessions, the group explores a whole range of themes and questions. As actors, the group excel with a range of unique and exciting story-telling skills. The use of metaphor and imagination is a driving force.
And, there is cake!
This is just one example of some of the brilliant arts programmes Sense staff and artists are involved with every day. There are so many ways to get creative in your area – in visual and tactile arts, drama, dance, movement, sculpture, music, pottery, photography and the list goes on!
If you want to get connected with Sense Arts or link up with other Sense artists and groups in your region and around the country, or you have an arts or creative project you want to share with others, please contact Sense’s Head of Arts and Wellbeing, Nic Vogelpoel via email nic.vogelpoel@sense.org.uk.
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