Edit this

Stronger

A moving and uplifting performance about families and disability.

Starts: 2009-02-23
Finishes: 2009-03-06

Availability:

Stronger is currently available for short tours and occasional one-off events. We would only be able to accommodate the latter when the production has been recently presented and an existing cast can be secured. Please contact info@womenandtheatre.co.uk for more information.

Introduction

Stronger explores the experiences of families of children with additional needs, specifically the pressures they face and the things which strengthen them.

Set in a Holiday Resort in Menorca, Stronger presents two families that are at different stages in their parenting journey. Sharon and Pete have teenage kids and have come away on their own for the first time in years. Ben and Cara are worried about their young baby Holly. Located on adjoining balconies, the couples are drawn together -through their support for each other the play highlights some of the pressures and joys that families with a disabled child can experience and what strengthens them.

Stronger is accompanied by a facilitated post-show discussion, allowing audiences to engage with the issues raised and receive more information. The programme is suitable for parents’ groups and relevant professionals.

History

Stronger was commissioned by Scope to support its Strengthening Families initiative.

It was developed through research with the help of family members and Scope staff. The play first toured in January 2008, visiting parents groups across England.

Scope also commissioned an accompanying DVD made up of extracts of the play and interviews with parents interspersed with learning objectives/ key points. The DVD is an awareness raising tool suitable for both professionals and befrienders and was launched in April 2008 with a performance at Scope‘s National headquarters.

Notes

Set in Menorca in early Jan 2008 the play shows how by chance two families meet up and are able to support each other. The play has an in-role discussion after the performance where professionals and families can talk to the characters. I am particularly grateful to the wonderful families and individuals I met during the research process. It seemed to me that families (whatever your understanding of the term is) need more help. That help more often than not comes from other families – this needs to be recognised and funding put in to place to support these groups.
Janice Connolly, W&T Artistic Director

Outcome

Audiences
‘Fantastic – it rang so many bells across my life as a parent/ carer.’
‘Very well written – very well researched. I related to it so well it could have been my story!”
‘Emotive, moving & powerful – thank you.’
‘Excellent – very powerful performance, should be used as a training resource.’
‘The play resonated at a variety of levels in terms of the emotion you feel, stresses in relationship, the support you receive from family and friends.’

Professionals
‘I think it touched on a lot of issues, relationships, support, understanding, pressures of society. I knew these pressures and demands before, but it is good to have time to reflect on them.’
‘I enjoyed the actors’ abilities to think about and discuss the issues in the play – not just as professionals being good actors, but as human beings who could relate to other people.’
‘I have been brought into a greater realisation of the potential of theatre to build stronger families, communities and organisations (what a powerful INSET for SIS colleagues this would be).’
‘It will make me more mindful of the pressures parents are under when we try to offer suggestions and wonder why they don’t seem to respond as we had hoped.’

Waverley School, a Special School in Middlesex commissioned a week of performances of Stronger for parents and professionals. They carried out in-depth evaluations to capture reactions and responses, which were overwhelmingly positive. Extracts of the report are available below as a pdf download, which highlight the variety of levels upon which people respond to Stronger.

Production Credits

Researched, written & directed by Janice Connolly
Original Cast:
Peter: Mike Aduwali
Sharon: Naomi Gudge
Ben: Craig Painting
Cara: Rochi Rampal

Stage Management & Design by Frances Rice

Set Construction: Andy Martin

Downloads

Stronger in action - evaluation quotes for bookers.pdf

Stronger information & booking guidelines

One Response to “Stronger”

Your Comments

Name

Mail (will not be published)

Website