Pegasus Theatre
We all need a place to belong, and if you are experiencing challenging circumstances, a place where you can feel welcome and secure is especially important.
Pegasus Theatre offers such a place for children in years 5 and 6 who are struggling at home or at school with their ‘Acting Out’ weekly sessions. Well Together has helped to fund them this year. Using drama games and role play, the group leaders also introduce a range of theatre skills and techniques.
At the end of term, the group often performs a short show for the parents and relatives. Jane from Well Together was lucky enough to be invited along to watch a performance – a retelling of the traditional folk story ‘The Slumber King’. The children had been given a rough story outline, with the chance to explore their own ideas and make decisions about the piece along the way.
The audience entered the dark studio space and we took our seats. The children waited excitedly in their positions, thrilled when they spotted someone who had come to see them. The music started and the children began telling their tale, engaged and happy. Each child knew their part and their character, and some children helped to organise others, natural stage directors.
There was great teamwork, and a clear delight in working together to perform. You could see many skills at play – planning, collaboration, mutual support, thinking ahead, concentration, sequencing, memory, coordination and many more. You could also see their confidence and enjoyment grow as the show progressed, a real joy to watch.
Wonderful props enhanced the tale, many brought in and managed by the children. Most children had a parent or relative who came to watch. The audience were very impressed. “I can’t believe he got up there,” said the dad sitting next to me.
The sessions are designed to improve and develop the children’s confidence, teamwork and communication skills, and comments from the children show that Acting Out is having a positive impact on them.
“Pegasus helps me cope better emotionally”
“I can be brave and confident”
“I feel I can do more with my body”
"[I am most proud of] speaking up and making new friends”
“[I have learned] to work better as a team”
The young people’s comments also show that acting and being on stage can be very beneficial to how they feel
“It has helped me to deal with stress while speaking [and] built my confidence speaking to a crowd”
“I managed to face my fears of stage fright”
“It was really fun to do the performance”
Acting Out runs weekly after school, and joining the project is by referral only. Drama experience is not essential, but the children often have an interest in drama. Well Together also funded transport to enable some of the young people to attend, as that is a real barrier for those who can’t afford it. After the show, as one child skipped off to get into his taxi, he said to his friend, “We did it!”. They jumped up and down in delight, contented and at home in this place where they belong.
To find out more about Acting Out, email: participation@pegasustheatre.org.uk.
To leave the final word on Acting Out to the children: “Pegasus is cool!”
Jane Gallagher, Well Together Community Capacity Builder
Well Together is delivered in partnership by OCVA and Community First Oxfordshire. The Programme is funded by the NHS Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board.