#PurpleTuesday2021 aims to drive positive change to the customer experience for disabled people and their families. The Blue Apple Singers had lots of fun supporting the event at The Swan Centre in Eastleigh. Below are some photos of the singers and their director Kate Mellors. Thanks to Cas Small from the Swan Centre for arranging everything so beautifully.
Blue Apple and Winchester Go LD have teamed up with Louisa Church from Collective Motion Dance to offer new online dance and exercise sessions on Mondays 1-2pm up to 20 December. A pilot session was very successful and performers found it great fun. The sessions are accessible and Makaton friendly.
Find out more and book places here.
Rebecca Godden is an experienced Multi-Disciplinary Practitioner of performing arts, communicating her talent and passion for the arts across varied platforms within theatre, education, and the community on a national and international scale. She studied Contemporary Performance at The University of Winchester and holds a First-Class BA honours degree. Rebecca specialises in Devised Theatre and has a passion for access for all within the arts, and has collaborated with many industry artists and companies which include, Equity, Birmingham Stage Theatre Company, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG London and Regional) and City Lit. She is thrilled to now be a part of the Blue Apple family!
Daisy is a freelance Charity Consultant who is passionate about helping both individuals and the charities that they work for to thrive and be the best that they can be. Daisy has extensive knowledge and experience with a range of not-for-profit organisations, from established charities through to local start-ups. Daisy is a visionary, ambitious, and creative freelancer bringing over 15 years of experience spanning arts, youth, community, disability, and voluntary sectors. Daisy is committed to values of social justice, equality, diversity, and inclusion. Pronouns: she/her.
Rebecca Godden
Daisy Robinson
Dominic Thompson brings experience from his role as Director of Adult and Higher Education at Peter Symonds College. He also lectures in Educational Studies at Portsmouth University. Megan Ball is Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer at Sands, stillbirth and neonatal death charity and was previously President and Chair of the Board of Trustees at Winchester Student Union, and Student Governor at the University of Winchester Board of Governors.
After several years contribution as a Trustee we say a big thank you to Rebecca Sheppard as she leaves to focus on work and family commitments.
Megan Ball
On Thursday 21 October 2021 a small group of Blue Apple performers stood on stage at Theatre Royal Winchester to talk about a very important film called See No Evil. Those performers all starred in a film designed to help people spot hate crime and protect vulnerable people from being exploited through a process known as ‘cuckooing’. This is when dealers convince a vulnerable person to let their home be used for drug dealing. They are often urban gangs who are involved in county lines drug trafficking. The film was premiered in the beautiful heritage theatre auditorium at Theatre Royal Winchester via their new surround sound cinema screen which has been recently installed thanks to generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This was the first film to be screened on the new equipment that will in future enable Theatre Royal Winchester to not only host live performance but also to screen films and live-streamed performances from theatres from around the country and beyond.
On stage to explain the key themes of the film were Anna Brisbane, James Elsworthy and Tommy Jessop alongside outgoing Chair of Trustees Georgiana Robertson. Co-performer James Benfield was unable to attend the premiere.
Photos by Mike Hall.
The part-animated video, created in collaboration with Cass Productions, features four of Blue Apple’s actors who all have learning disabilities, as well as real-life police officers. See No Evil was developed with the Hampshire Police Crime Commissioner and Hampshire County Council. Speaking before the film was shown to invited guests from local organisations, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Councillor Luke Stubbs talked about the critical importance of crime prevention in the role of policing.
The film is designed for viewing alongside an educational workshop that includes drama and discussion activities, co-facilitated by members of Blue Apple Theatre. Free educational resources and the film can be accessed via Blue Apple's website at blueappletheatre.com/seenoevil
In her time as Chair, Georgiana has led Blue Apple Theatre as it has grown across Hampshire, toured both in the UK and overseas, moved into film and dance, and become ‘company in residence’ at the University of Winchester.
Georgiana was aware of Blue Apple when Jane Jessop set it up in 2005. Becoming a trustee fulfilled her belief in people following their dreams, stepping beyond expectation and that we should all be doing our bit to make those opportunities possible. Reflecting on Blue Apple’s impact, she said “Every performance 'gives' to the actors themselves but it enriches all of us, audience members and local community too. With Blue Apple’s two major shows per year, plus many other one-offs, there's so much celebration that punctuates each year. What makes Blue Apple special is the creative fun and endeavour, such a range of repertoire, ambition, skills and commitment from everyone, full of non-stop surprises, and it’s always uplifting!”
Georgiana Robertson
Speaking of her role as a trustee she added “You give your time and your skills to help a very worthwhile organisation, a charity that achieves far more than numbers alone might tell, where achievements can be seen and enjoyed on stage but where others can pass unnoticed - confidence, social skills, fitness, interaction, mutual support, dedication, stimulation, nimbleness of mind and body, learning. Many happy memories are locked in my mind! Some of my particular favourites are from 2012 in The Happy Prince with costumes that described a city... who would think that even possible? And in 2016 some extraordinary images of acrobats, an elephant and Parsee in Around the World in 80 Days. Being a trustee at Blue Apple has many, many rewards; it’s been a real privilege to have been chair of such a wonderful and exciting theatre company.”
“Trustees at Blue Apple have a fixed length of service, but since I’m still able to give my time, by staying involved I can remain useful; helping to raise money, seeking support and ensuring a smooth handover in continuing to build a strong organisation. To use a theatrical metaphor, I think of it rather like being essential backstage support to stage performances!”
Georgiana stepped down from her role as Chair on 21 October 2021 and former Vice Chair, Professor Ed Rochead, has stepped into the role of Chair for the next few months to spearhead the search for a permanent Chair. Commenting on Georgiana’s tenure as Chair he said "Countless additional adults with learning disabilities have had their quality of life, and their life chances, enhanced by Blue Apple thanks to Georgiana’s strategic vision and exemplary leadership and energy. She has already volunteered to continue supporting Blue Apple in her new capacity as Chair Emeritus. Everyone involved in Blue Apple wishes her well for a superb 'retirement' from this role."
Lawrie and Anna at the Winchester Rotary Club event in August 2021
Blue Apple performers Anna Brisbane and Lawrie Morris were invited to attend a very special and select event at the Sir John Soane's Museum in London in September. ‘Keats by Candlelight’ comprised a selection of the poet's writings performed in the stunning surroundings of The Soane at Lincoln's Inn Fields. They attended to raise the profile of their recent production of ‘Frankenstein’ in order to garner support for a possible future international tour of the piece which was premiered in July at the Theatre Royal Winchester.
Lawrie and Anna also accompanied Chair of Trustees Georgiana Robertson to a Winchester Rotary meeting in August to give an inspiring presentation on Blue Apple’s successes and future plans!
Performers Lawrie Morris and Anna Brisbane outside the Sir John Soane’s Museum
Blue Apple congratulates Jane Jessop, founder of Blue Apple, on her award of the Badge of the Order of Mercy for distinguished voluntary service that has been conferred on her by The League Of Mercy Foundation. We are immensely proud of Jane whose work has had such a valued impact on local lives in Hampshire and who continues to advocate for the talents, skills and needs of people with learning disabilities. The award was made in a ceremony at Mansion House, a Grade I listed building in the City of London that is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. Jane told us that the event provided a valuable opportunity “to speak to very interesting people, hear their stories and share why the vision of Blue Apple is so important to us all and how lives have been changed.” Jane originally founded Blue Apple in July 2005 to help facilitate her son Tommy’s love of acting as the nearest theatre company for people with learning disabilities was then in London. She decided to set up an ambitious and inclusive theatre company for people with learning disabilities in Winchester, where every member was equally valued. Today Blue Apple brings highly acclaimed theatrical performances to the south of England and overseas.
Tommy Jessop in the role of Prospero in Blue Apple’s 2019 production of The Tempest - Photo by Mike Hall
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on” proclaimed Prospero in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
What prophetic words, spoken by actor Tommy Jessop on stage at The Theatre Royal Winchester in Blue Apple’s 2019 production of The Tempest.
Tommy breathed life into the dreams of many other performers with learning disabilities as he took to the stage at the University of Winchester to receive an honorary doctorate in July 2021.
Tommy is an experienced Shakespearian actor and co-founder of Hampshire based Blue Apple Theatre. The charity seeks to challenge prejudice by creating ambitious opportunities for performers who have learning disabilities and showcasing their talents to the widest possible audience.
Working with Blue Apple, Tommy Jessop became the first actor with Down syndrome to play Hamlet on mainstream stages. Tommy is now a multi award-winning film and television actor whose first film, Coming Down the Mountain, was BAFTA nominated. He was the first actor with Down syndrome to play the lead in a primetime TV drama, the first professional actor with Down syndrome to play Hamlet and is the first actor with Down syndrome to become a full voting member of BAFTA.
You may recognise Tommy from his dramatic role as Terry Boyle in the recent BBC1 series of Line of Duty where he was nearly drowned.
Blue Apple’s artistic director Richard Conlon said “The whole of Blue Apple Theatre are rightly proud of Tommy for blazing a trail and for opening doors. The company he founded with his mother, Jane, has changed lives by offering up high-quality performance opportunities for people just like Tommy. By telling stories and entertaining audiences locally and further afield, we become part of a bigger, joyful, national conversation about what everyone can do if given the chance.”
Tommy Jessop rehearsing Blue Apple’s 2016 production of Around The World In Eighty Days - Photo by James Yeats-Brown
Tommy receivedan Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Winchester at 8.30pm on 19 July 2021 and made a short memorable speech.
Watch Tommy’s graduation ceremony live here: https://winchester.graduations.live/visitor
Other performers hoping to follow in Tommy’s footsteps and tread the boards can find out more about performance opportunities at Blue Apple by visiting our website www.blueappletheatre.com.
Tel: 01962 827352
Email: admin@blueappletheatre.com
Blue Apple uses theatre to transform lives and campaign for change.
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