Introduction to Participatory Arts and Inclusive Classroom Pedagogies - A Theatre for Development Training
This pilot programme by EnCre8 was created in collaboration with the British Council and in partnership with Singapore International Foundation.
Co-led by Jodi-Alissa Bickerton from GRAEAE THEATRE COMPANY (UK's leading Disability Arts theatre company, pioneering accessibility in world class theatre) and Grace Lee-Khoo from ACCESS PATH PRODUCTIONS (Singapore's creative organisation, championing equal access to the arts), this introductory course was crafted for teachers and educators in the field of arts making with D/deaf and disabled communities. This bespoke programme was designed with an international and home ground perspective to impact the foundation of their practices.
This programme was conducted through a series of workshops and webinars by Singapore and UK practitioners in 2 phases. In Phase 1, the participants were introduced to concepts, practices and were engaged in group work over 5 weeks. In Phase 2, Jodi joined the session in Singapore for an intensive 5 day workshop.
Feedback from participant:
"The five days of 4-hour sessions with Jodi-Alissa Bickerton from Graeae Theatre Company-UK, were high energy ones, constantly being energised by the room of people who are all here to learn and effect social change in their own ways. We explored performance as an inclusive space, for different bodies, different needs in playful, accepting, equally energetic and quietly reflective ways. Attempting to use different modes of expression, from movement, sound, sign, and audio-descriptions, we explored relationships between people and the spaces we share, and how to be inclusive in a way that invites participation in various modes and ways.Individually, we each experimented, made mistakes, revealed int imate details of ourselves.
Mindfulness. One of those words that seems to be trending in education circles. How do we teach mindfulness to our students? As in most values and attitudes, they can’t really be taught, they need to be caught . As one of my classmates shared, people don’t have time to be mindful, and some even push past her or even trip on her cane when she is in public spaces. We are always rushing against time, our eyes and our hearts just can’t catch up with our race with time. That’s one of the things I learned, to really practice mindfulness and try and be aware and mindful of the different needs of the people around me"