The Help
The showcase event for The Help, a play being performed in 40 hostels and day-centres around London from October to December 2008. The play is an example of Forum Theatre, a spontaneous and empowering art form that gives audiences the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by the characters in the play and to try out strategies that may improve the outcome for the protagonist.
The play was written by acclaimed playwright Sarah Woods. The Help wrestles with the complicated needs of three very different relationships to the care system: a domestic servant in the UK caring for other people’s children in order to send money home to her family in the Philippines; a troubled young man whose mother can’t cope with him anymore and is thus placed in care and a hostel worker – paid to care – but does he?
All of the actors have had personal experience of homelessness, and have become involved with Cardboard Citizens either through workshops at Crisis Skylight or at their individual hostels. They have undergone an intensive training in Forum Theatre techniques before being cast in The Help. There will be an opportunity after the show to chat to the actors and to find out more about how Cardboard Citizens may be able to help you as well as opportunities for you to become involved in Cardboard Citizens work.
Over the past 15 years, Cardboard Citizens has grown to be an exemplar of excellence achievable in the field of the arts and social inclusion. Starting from its unparalleled expertise working with homeless people using Forum Theatre – an interactive theatrical form which engages audiences in vigorous participation and debate – it has moved on to show the stories and knowledge gained at the homeless front line to wider audiences, including its much vaunted collaborations with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Design: Mamoru Iriguchi
Sound: Reynaldo Young
Cast: Lee Carroll, Rob Pinnock, Angela Tuliyama, Alex Harrow
Cast & Joker: Terry O’Leary
Stage Manager: Danny Gregory
Date and time
19 November 2008
Please note
This is now a past event.
Venue
Toynbee Studios
28 Commercial Street
London, E1 6AB
Tel: 020 7247 5102
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