OUR MISSION AND VISION
Our vision is a society that enables everyone to flourish and our mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change.Where difference can divide, at Chickenshed the difference makes the art.
Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that first began in 1974 . Primarily based at our own purpose-built venue in North London, we create theatre for all ages and run successful outreach projects, education courses and membership programmes throughout the year. We are also a registered charity and rely heavily on the generous support of individuals, companies, trusts and foundations in order to continue our pioneering work.
ONCE UPON A TIME, IN A SHED...
In 1974, musician and composer, Jo Collins, met Mary Ward, a teacher and director. With a shared belief in harnessing the creativity in everyone and anyone, they started a theatre company. In a chicken shed.
Their creative process worked. More members joined as church halls replaced the eponymous shed. In the early 1980s the company included a boy with cerebral palsy for the first time. ‘If we’re open to everyone, why is he the only one?’ asked teenage members. Enter John Bull and his pioneering work on integration. He joined with Mary and Jo and Chickenshed became the first truly inclusive theatre company. Open to everyone.
Judi Dench and Trevor Nunn joined us as pro-active Trustees. Our first CD, a record contract, TV and West End performances followed – and an increasingly public profile.
Amidst all this, 1988 was a pivotal year: Lord and Lady Rayne met Chickenshed – and Lady Rayne became our President. She introduced our work to The Princess of Wales, who ‘got’ Chickenshed, heart and mind, from the start. As our Royal Patron, she shared her time – personal and professional – and gave us genuine loyalty and unwavering support.
When Enfield Council pledged land for a theatre, it was Lord and Lady Rayne who tirelessly raised the funds to build it. In December 1994, the company moved into a beautiful flexible space. At the heart of the building sits The Rayne Theatre, named after the family who turned our dreams into reality.
From our new home, things really took off. 1995 saw our first national tour. 2 months, 20 performers, 5 cities and 20 schools, enjoyed by over 5,000 people.
For Mary and Jo, the concept of inclusion that seemed so obvious at the start is now an international movement with a mission to change the world. The awards that recognise this – two MBEs, ‘This is Your Life’, Creative Briton Award, a Snowdon Award and Honorary Doctorates included – are as much for Chickenshed as for them.
Some of the original 1970s members are still the core of our company. Most have moved on, outside performance art, but the Chickenshed experience remains within them all. Adult lives underpinned by the values and skills absorbed during their magical time at the Shed. And an understanding that diversity and inclusiveness should be a way of life.
That understanding is just as relevant for members today. Every extraordinary piece of theatre they create at Chickenshed shouts out the same thing: anyone can thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome.
Judi Dench and Trevor Nunn joined us as pro-active Trustees. Our first CD, a record contract, TV and West End performances followed – and an increasingly public profile.
Amidst all this, 1988 was a pivotal year: Lord and Lady Rayne met Chickenshed – and Lady Rayne became our President. She introduced our work to The Princess of Wales, who ‘got’ Chickenshed, heart and mind, from the start. As our Royal Patron, she shared her time – personal and professional – and gave us genuine loyalty and unwavering support.
When Enfield Council pledged land for a theatre, it was Lord and Lady Rayne who tirelessly raised the funds to build it. In December 1994, the company moved into a beautiful flexible space. At the heart of the building sits The Rayne Theatre, named after the family who turned our dreams into reality.
From our new home, things really took off. 1995 saw our first national tour. 2 months, 20 performers, 5 cities and 20 schools, enjoyed by over 5,000 people.
For Mary and Jo, the concept of inclusion that seemed so obvious at the start is now an international movement with a mission to change the world. The awards that recognise this – two MBEs, ‘This is Your Life’, Creative Briton Award, a Snowdon Award and Honorary Doctorates included – are as much for Chickenshed as for them.
Some of the original 1970s members are still the core of our company. Most have moved on, outside performance art, but the Chickenshed experience remains within them all. Adult lives underpinned by the values and skills absorbed during their magical time at the Shed. And an understanding that diversity and inclusiveness should be a way of life.
That understanding is just as relevant for members today. Every extraordinary piece of theatre they create at Chickenshed shouts out the same thing: anyone can thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome.
Performance
Entertaining and thought-provoking
Performance is at the heart of everything that we do and brings together all aspects of the Company. Our work uses the stage to celebrate diversity and performance as a vehicle to tackle topical social issues. We regularly present original and entertaining productions for young children, families and adults that showcase talent. We also create new work, inspired by the people around us, about personal and social issues that affect society today which we then take on tour to theatres, community centres and schools across the UK.
Education
Everyone has a right
Chickenshed changes lives by bringing young people from all social and economic backgrounds, races and abilities together to study creatively alongside each other. Many of whom have been marginalised by society and excluded from mainstream educational settings.
66% of the students on our BTEC course would not be permitted to start a course at any other college or university, yet 95% of these same students achieve a nationally recognised qualification at Chickenshed.
Membership
Celebrating diversity
We believe that every person who joins our company positively changes the way that we work. We work to every individuals strengths, finding the creative environment that will enable them to flourish. We hold weekly workshops where young people can gain a newfound confidence and get the chance to regularly perform in major in-house productions.
Outreach
Targeting those who are difficult to reach
Chickenshed has established a network of partners that enables us to effectively target children and young people who would otherwise not be able to access our work. To date we've toured to over 200 schools, reaching 25,000 young people and rising. Our work engages and educates young people about relevant social issues through the power of performance and active participation in workshops.
‘You must do the show in my primary school because that is when everything bad starts.'13-year-old boy from a school in London
We also run Shedlink - an ongoing project that enables us to help community groups set up independent 'Sheds' around the UK (and two in Russia!) so that more people can benefit from our ethos and teaching style.
Chickenshed Kensington & Chelsea
Expanding our work to meet growing need
42% of children living in Kensington and Chelsea are from low income families.
Our aim is to replicate our successful model, practised and developed for nearly 40 years, and bring inclusive theatre workshops to Kensington and Chelsea, South London. This will ensure even more children and young people can experience the importance of being included and valued; not segregated or rejected.
Young Creators
A new Chickenshed initiative
Young Creators is a new professional development programme, launching at Chickenshed in 2013, which will provide young people with access to training and practical work experience in a variety of theatre skills. The aim is to provide a platform which will teach young people creative skills and arm them with the necessary tools to further their professional development.
Each year, 165 Young Creators will benefit from the programme.
Recent awards and nominations
We have been nominated in the Best Male category of the Off West End Theatre Awards 2012 for The Rain That Washes and in 2011 we were awarded Winner of Best Theatre Company in the Fringe Report Awards and the Panel Award at The Off West End Theatre Awards.
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