In 1974 Mary Ward and Jo Collins began their company using a humble old chicken shed as their premises. The two women shared a basic belief that the performing arts should be open and available to all. It was this guiding principle which drove the company forward and enabled it to embrace participants and performers from all walks of life.
Over the years Chicken Shed has developed a creative process which has a central commitment to inspiring the creativity of individual members and the group. Chicken Shed encourages and acknowledges the contribution of every participant and this inclusiveness is a central tenet of its approach to its performance projects. Chicken Shed’s philosophy ensures the active creative participation of those who would usually be at risk of exclusion through factors of health, social inequity or cultural difference. By instilling a sense of personal responsibility in their members Chicken Shed is able to develop a keen sense of community and creative ownership along within their renowned artistic achievements.
Chicken Shed is a performing company which has a reputation for producing innovative and exciting theatre. Imaginative production design, exuberant performers and integrated music-events are the hallmarks of their main house productions. Whilst their studio work gives voice, space and life to new writing, creative adaptations and ingenious presentation.
2005 was an exciting year for the Chicken Shed Company. Their passionate and politically inspired piece, Globaleyes, was re-worked for a successful 6-week run at the Rayne Theatre. The production then transferred to the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh for two weeks and coincided with the G8 Summit and the Make Poverty History rally.
The foundation of Chicken Shed’s success is their innovative approach to children’s and youth theatre. With a membership nearing 700, it is the largest organisation of its kind in Europe. Even with such numbers Chicken Shed retains its fundamental commitment to the individual and to each member’s contribution to the work. This approach is a central precept of Chicken Shed’s inclusive approach. The staff of CS believe that their philosophy nurtures confident, creative and aware performers who share the stage with their peers in a spirit of co-operation.
Chicken Shed Theatre Company also fulfils an important pedagogic role by running the only inclusive BTEC National Diploma in the Performing Arts in the UK and a Postgraduate Certificate in Inclusivity in the Performing Arts in partnership with Middlesex University. Chicken Shed has also developed an extensive outreach programme; having set up 20 new theatre workshop activities around the English regions from Kent to Fife. Chicken Shed’s projects in Islington, Lambeth and Southwark were instigated and supported by the Department for Education and Skills as part of their London Challenge initiative. This project is aimed directly at changing the lives and educational opportunities of marginalised young people in the Capital.
“The degree to which this wonderful idea has been pursued is a profound example to us all. It deserves our greatest possible support and if we fail to become involved, we shall become the losers” – Lord Attenborough CBE
TODAY CHICKEN SHED RUNS:
HOW CHICKEN SHED CHILDREN’S THEATRE WORKS
As a company with almost 700 members under the age of twenty-one CS have the largest children’s and youth theatre in the country.
For the staff of Chicken Shed their work centres on encouraging creative contribution in an inclusive environment which involves giving responsibility over to their young members. Therefore, from the moment a child becomes involved in their first Chicken Shed session, they are made aware of the impact that their presence has upon the group. Each child is then encouraged to work with their peers to contribute to the ideals of a creative community. This continues to be emphasised by staff and youth leader associates as the children move through the children’s theatre process. It is this philosophical and practical commitment to reciprocal support and respect that enables Chicken Shed to work with so many children from such diverse backgrounds. By the time members reach the Youth Theatre they are able to work both independently and within a self-supporting peer group. The performing and communication skills learned and developed along the way continue to advance their understanding of the performing arts and of the creative process. In this way Chicken Shed members are able to share a valuable common language based on co-operation rather than competition.
Throughout the artistic programme children experience a wide range of theatrical styles and contexts. So whether they are part of a cast of a thousand moving up to the local Mall to represent “The Future” or working with their peer group in a workshop environment or developing material for the Youth Band’s contribution to the Cabaret or coaxing a nervous five-year-old into the room; they are encouraged to approach their work in the same way. It is this approach which seems to make Chicken Shed’s programme a unique and invaluable experience for the young developing person. The participating children know that they are part of something special and that they can share this message amongst themselves and with the wider community.
At Chicken Shed staff also believe that it can be difficult to talk about the work and how their approach makes its impact on young people…and believe that the young Chicken Shed artists express it best:
At Chicken Shed every individual counts and so everyone has the chance to express themselves and share ideas without feeling any pressure.
At Chicken Shed everyone is equal. You don’t act for yourselves you help each other. That is what makes Chicken Shed so special.
Everyone’s welcome and no one’s left out. You are recognised as someone and not as no one.
The atmosphere is fantastic – working with so many different people and performing with them is always a great experience. The way everyone regardless of background, age and race comes together on stage is inspirational.
We are each other’s responsibility and help each other to perform to the best of our ability.
TOP CLUCKS FOR CHICKEN SHED
The following professionals all agree that the written word does little justice to experiencing the spirit of this extraordinary company. Only by seeing Chicken Shed in action for yourself can any of these compliments be truly understood and the Chicken Shed message be given real meaning.
Very very rarely perhaps with luck, two or three times in a life time, we might see a piece of theatre so unusual, so astonishing, so profoundly moving that we come away feeling somehow different by having watched it.” – Matthew Norman, Mail on Sunday.
“Chicken Shed Theatre is one of the most exciting and unusual projects in the London area and possibly the entire country… building productions of a daunting magnitude… Exciting… moving…, remarkable…capable of the highest creativity.” – Peter Hepple, The Stage.
“I was amazed by…’Globaleyes’… such a provocative, uplifting and insightful piece of theatre… Chicken Shed continues to transcend the barriers of society, involving young people to communicate issues in fresh, exciting and interesting ways.” – Kate Allen, Director Amnesty International UK.
“Chicken Shed is one of the profound experiences of my life. You can only watch and marvel. Their performances leave you moved and uplifted, filled with joy and optimism” – Nickolas Grace
“Everything I have experienced connected with the Chicken Shed Theatre – from the moment I have arrived in the foyer – the atmosphere of invention, discovery and surprise and sheer all-enveloping joy in theatre on the stage to the moment of departure has filled me with happiness and pleasure” – Peter Bowles.
“Chicken Shed Theatre Company could teach many a West End theatre… how to put on a show. Their production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ truly zings with energy, panache and fresh acting talent. For my money, it was one of the best nights out in London this year.” – Andrew O’Hagan The Guardian
“The idea of the company shows us a glimpse of a more perfect world in which human beings of every kind share their talents…Their work demands both our attention and our support.” – Trevor Nunn, CBE.
CHICKEN SHED AT WORK
Many of the young people who walk through the doors of the Chicken Shed have had doors closed in their faces because:
Chicken Shed believes that the arts belong to everyone. Any young person who wants to perform has the ability and the right to do so. At Chicken Shed by involving young people that might otherwise be marginalised and discriminated against, the company practices what it preaches – inclusiveness. However, neither does their approach compromise on performance standards. Chicken Shed demands a high standard of work from all its members and in being called to do their best the children share in the deep and enriching experience of making art.
CURRENTLY PLAYING AT CHICKEN SHED
Who’s Afraid of Virginia’s Sister? by Sarah Daniels. Until Sat April 8th 2006.
Debbie is unafraid to assert herself and knows what she wants. Her sister Alex, who’s addicted to therapy, thinks Debbie needs an anger management course. Set in London today, Who’s Afraid of Virginia’s Sister? is a comic tale of two sisters and their different approaches to being heard.
“It would have been impossible, completely and entirely, for any woman to have written the plays of Shakespeare in the age of Shakespeare.” So says Virginia Woolf in A Room of One’s Own, as she parallels Shakespeare’s imaginary sister’s life with his own. If Virginia were alive today, who would she think were the forgotten people – those who have talent, brains and ambition, but are thwarted by circumstances before they’ve even begun? in this specially commissioned new play, Sarah Daniels explores the world of opportunity – or lack of it – that exists for different sections of society.
Times: Tuesday 14th March to Saturday 8th April 2006 with Tue – Sat at 7.30pm and Thu matinee at 1pm. Sign interpreted performance – Friday 24th March 7.30pm. Captioned performance – Saturday 1st April 7.30pm. Audio described performance – Thursday 6th April 7.30pm. Tickets: £9.50 / £7.50 concs. Groups of 15+ £7.50. School groups of 15+ students £5.50. Box office: 020 8292 9222. Minicom: 020 8350 0676
To find out more about Chicken Shed and the range of programmes and opportunities the company has to offer, visit www.chickenshed.org.uk
STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…
Chicken Shed is also proud to ANNOUNCE their upcoming community event: KIDS FUN WALK FOR CHICKEN SHED , 21ST MAY 2006M, 2 – 4PM. A sponsored children’s fun walk in aid of Chicken Shed and the North London Hospice will take place on 21st May 2006 at Brook Farm Open Space, Whetstone, London N20. For further details on how you can get involved and help to raise money for these two important public charities contact: Ralph Richard on 07860 650065 or Frank Kanter on 020 8883 3728.
