Be IN! (clusive)

A European project called Be IN! (clusive), funded by Erasmus.

The Be IN! (clusive) project arises from a collaboration between three European theatre companies for actors with a learning disability and is co-funded by an Erasmus+ programme promoting innovation through exchange of best practice. The aim of the “Be IN!” project is to break down stereotypes through theatre and related activities, show people new perspectives on world vision, arouse in them the ability to think critically, and lead them to self-knowledge and self-development, which ultimately has an impact on change in society.

The “Be Inclusive” project involves three European theatres working with actors who have intellectual disabilities across three main themes of Information, Inspiration and Interaction. After the initial meetings in 2021, the project was deferred due to the Covid pandemic. Activities have included workshops, screenings, stage performances, presentations, interviews and discussions.- Divadlo Aldente hosted the first “Be IN!” festival in Brno, Czech Republic during May 2022, Blue Apple hosted the second in October 2022, welcoming our two sister European theatres to Winchester for a week. The third major event was a conference hosted by Teatr 21 in Warsaw, Poland. In addition to the theatrical activities a group of researchers from Rytmus have posed Socratic questions about the nature of performance by learning disabled artists. Outputs include an exhibition 3 IN in Brno (with news journal) during May 2023 and a book in three languages*. Find out more here.

*Theatre as a path to inclusion is free to download here

Find out more here.

Brno, May 2022

This festival presented live performances across the week in BARKA Theatre of Cathy and Bajaja and Who Am I? by Divadlo Aldente and a touring presentation of The Wizard of Oz by Blue Apple Theatre and a screening of a short animated film called See No Evil. Teatr 21 performed their play Trolls within a school classroom to children and adults.

Beyond performances there was social interaction, sightseeing, a tour of historically significant theatres and performance workshops.

Winchester, October 2022

The festival included live performances of Frankenstein and of interactive film installation Forgotten People Forgotten Planet by Blue Apple Theatre, Antigone by Divadlo Aldente and a film screening of Revolution by Teatr 21.

Blue Apple ran workshops in different theatre skills at Theatre Royal Winchester and at the University of Winchester. Participants enjoyed local tourism and social interaction.

The festival concluded with an international symposium hybrid live/digital exploring sector development during and beyond the pandemic.

Warsaw, March 2023

Teatr 21 hosted this conference in their new location at the Centre for Inclusive Art, the first social cultural institution in Warsaw entirely dedicated to the work of disabled artists.

It was attended by educators and theatre practitioners from Poland, the Czech Republic and the UK. It offered an opportunity to reflect on the current state of theatre and inclusivity.

Blue Apple’s Artistic Director Richard Conlon presented a talk A revolution with a smile on its face with two of Blue Apple’s core actors, Anna Brisbane and Katie Appleford and volunteer Chris Pearce.

Beyond the conference Teatr 21 presented live theatre performances of Libido Romantico, Krolestwa and Tranquillo.

Brno, May 2023

The 3 IN interactive exhibition offers insight into the work and life of 3 theatre ensembles of actors with disabilities from 3 European countries. With its dialogical nature and interactive elements, the exhibition aimed to give visitors the opportunity to encounter various differences and ask important questions to which there are no clear and simple answers:

3 IN is the output of a group of female researchers at the non-profit organisation Rytmus, who aimed to promote discussion about inclusion (not only) in art.

This event included workshops, live music and a printed newspaper ‘Daily In! (clusive)’.

Blue Apple staged Frankenstein in Rome for the Keats-Shelley 200 bicentenary campaign 2020-2022

The #Keats-Shelley 200 campaign marked the 200th anniversary of the deaths of the Romantic poets, John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley, and focused on the final years of the lives of both poets with events both in the UK and in Italy. Events celebrated the poets’ extraordinary legacies as well as looking to the future. Blue Apple Theatre presented their interpretation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at the St Stephen’s School Lyceum in Rome on 15 and 16 October. The traditional story is viewed through the lens of real outsiders who, like Frankenstein, are often not treated compassionately by society.

Blue Apple’s Artistic Director Richard Conlon said:

"The story of The Creature dragged back from the afterlife, only to be abandoned by his creator, speaks about the big themes of isolation and exclusion, a central character who is treated as less-than human, made to be monstrous when he is arguably a victim. Written in 1816, this story still has a lot to tell us.

Blue Apple’s interpretation of Frankenstein is both faithful and original, going back to the source material and beyond it. There will be no bolts through the neck in our version but do of course expect the unexpected.”

After first being presented in the UK in 2021 with a hybrid live/recorded production, combining a small stage cast and externally filmed footage to address the restraints of the Covid pandemic, Frankenstein is being brought back to life in Rome for the Keats-Shelley 200 campaign.

A cast of six on stage - and many others recorded - show this tale from a very particular angle; this is the ultimate ‘outsider’ narrative told by a cast made up of people traditionally kept ‘outside’ of society. Blue Apple's adaptation puts its faith in the genius of Mary Shelley and goes right back to the source for this timely version.

Debbie Hodges from the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, said:

“The production of the Blue Apple Frankenstein in Rome in mid-October marks the grande finale of a programme of activities and events put in place to commemorate the bicentenaries of the births of the English romantic poets, John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

The collaboration with the Blue Apple Theatre is a new departure for the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association and we are proud to offer our support to this remarkable organisation which offers opportunities and life skills to young people with a range of learning disabilities. The first performances of this adaption of Mary Shelley's masterpiece were held at the Theatre Royal in Winchester in the summer of 2021, at a time when the pandemic had caused endless disruption to the performing arts. However, Frankenstein not only came through triumphantly, but was an outstanding example of professionalism and commitment.

We hope that there will be further opportunities to work together.”

Frankenstein was presented in two performances at St Stephen’s School, Via Aventina 3, 00153 Rome, Italy on Saturday 15 at 7pm and Sunday 16 at 2pm. Following the performance Blue Apple ran workshops with school pupils. Blue Apple performers also had the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Rome included a tour of the Keats-Shelley House.

On 15 April 2023 a Beijing cultural centre called Body On and On screened a film recording of Blue Apple’s Frankenstein to over 2,000 people in China as part of the UK Disability Arts Spring Screening Season, a cultural event arising from a British Council initiative. Frankenstein was originally staged and livestreamed in Summer 2021 by Blue Apple Theatre in partnership with the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association to mark the 200th anniversary of the deaths of the poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. The production explored themes of alienation and prejudice through observations from learning disabled performers who themselves often experience rejection from society. On the night of the Beijing festival screening, Blue Apple’s Frankenstein was watched in China by 2,290 people online and a further 95 people who watched the screening in person. At the end of the film, a group of Frankenstein cast members and Blue Apple’s Artistic Director joined the festival online via Zoom for a post-show discussion to talk about the interpretation and answer questions from the audience.