Creative inclusion in community theatre: a journey with Odyssey Theatre

Abstract

What does ‘inclusion’ mean in practice? This article considers the work of Odyssey Theatre, a group of learning-disabled and non-learning-disabled performers as they put together a production with the support of professional theatre workers. Working processes are examined and the balance of empowerment and professional leadership considered. It is argued that the outcome is an art form with its own artistic and social validity. Inclusive theatre will be unlike other community theatre or professional theatre just as an inclusive society will be different from the one that we currently share.

Keywords:

• inclusion
• inclusive theatre
• disability
• disability arts
• learning disability
• community theatre
• story telling

Acknowledgements

Many thanks are due to all the cast members of Odyssey for allowing me to observe their working processes.

Notes

1. See http://www.hijinx.org.uk.

2. The quotations and reported comments from Gaynor Lougher are from an interview held in Cardiff on 11 January 2008. I am grateful to her for giving so generously of her time to answer my questions.

3. See http://www.disabilityartsonline.org/site.

4. See http://www.ndaf.org/main.

5. See http://www.mencap.org.uk.

6. See http://www.learfoundation.org.uk.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roger Wooster

Roger Wooster is senior lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport, teaching on performing arts and applied drama courses. He completed an MA in Educational Drama in 2005 and in 2007 published Contemporary theatre in education.He previously worked as an actor and director in community theatre and theatre in education