Taking livestreamed theatre into Adult Social Care Homes with @stratfordeast

I really enjoy working as an associate artist at Theatre Royal Stratford East. As part of our work as A People’s Theatre, we are continuing  to explore how this can extend the reach and engagement for audiences using existing and emerging platforms and networks.

I have previously described the real human connection that was discovered when our livestream went into children’s hospitals and a children’s hospice earlier this year. As you may know I have been a real advocate in my work for developing new projects that have an extended element of digital engagement for audiences for over a decade now.

So this new initiative is no different. Tommy, is the great new touring production of the classic 1969 album and subsequent movie by The Who. Ramps on the Moon have produced an extraordinary show, directed by Stratford East’s Artistic Director, Kerry Michael, the piece has access running through all aspects of the production.

So as part of our discussions with Kerry, we will be developing the HD livestream, which will be broadcast to adult social care homes across east London, as well as across care homes in some of the venue cities that the production has toured to.

This will be a fully captioned, with an audio description feed too. The show has integrated signing as part of the action and a full live band.

Some of the homes and schemes we are working with are dementia care homes, and we are really keen to see how the piece works in these venues for the audience and their families. Clearly there are references both visually and musically from over 40 years ago which may allow recognition and connections.

We are inviting families to come and participate and watch alongside their family members who may be resident in the schemes and spaces we are working with. We know the technology can work. we have done it before many times. In a way that’s the easy bit. But what is really clear to me, is that the people here, living in the Borough and near the theatre have for many years paid their Council Tax, their income Tax, and contributed to the community in which they now live. They have a right to be able to access the work that they have contributed towards, for free. To me that is what A People’s Theatre can and should deliver.

My question is, why are all theatres and arts organisations not pushing the boundaries in the same way and using the digital opportunities that are now clearly in our grasp to make those same connections?

 

Children, making the world a better place…

 

I caught up with my daughter last week. She was on her inter-rail trip across Europe, and we met in Stockholm. I had been asked to give a talk in Oslo, and she was travelling from Copenhagen to Sweden. I checked timings and it was possible that we could both be at Stockholm Central Station at 9.30pm that night. We arranged to meet. It felt like a Bond movie, with the sending of texts, timings and meeting places for the possible exchange of files, or documents. In my case it was a big bag of Haribo…

She arrived with her inter-rail travelling companion, Ellie, and we were able to meet up, go out for food and catch up. It was a really fantastic moment.  Spending the time with her and seeing her as a confident, independent and creative woman made my heart burst with pride. I told her so, and also the realisation that no matter what else is going on in the world – the toxicity of the current state of political discourse, the rise of right wing bigotry, and the despotic behaviour of world leaders – The simple fact is that her being in the world, makes the world a better place. She makes the world a better place for all of us.

This realisation, which is very simple, is about seeing the future in the hands of our young people. It is about recognising that we need to invest and provide the best opportunities for all young people.

So today, as some of you will be aware, I have been dealing with a back problem with the disc between L4 and L5 giving me some issues. I decided to cycle into town, as the exercise and cycling is really helping. I am currently home alone, as my daughter is now heading from Amsterdam to Berlin, and Susie is flying to Winnipeg, and my son is away with his friends in Cambridge today.

I decided to head to Cambridge and buy a new vinyl album. As I was browsing the albums – I looked across and saw my son there who was having breakfast with his mates. He came over and gave me the biggest hug ever. I had also told him too, that him being in the world also made the world a better place.

Two chance encounters, and moments in time have been the story of my last few weeks.

Seeing Christy in Relevant Records today, and meeting Millie in Stockholm has focused my thinking about our duty and responsibility, not only as parents, but as fellow human beings to put children at the forefront of our thinking and responsibility for all our futures.

Children…This piece of music had been in my mind for a long time, and more recently I had been thinking about it. So it feels right that I should share this as part of this blog. Thank you Robert Miles, we will miss you.