The Forest - Press Release
Frozen Light present
The Forest
Thursday 3 – Saturday 5 December
Brighton Dome Corn Exchange
11am & 1.30pm, £8 combined ticket for participant and carer / £5 individual ticket for friends and family
Download the PDF at the bottom of the page.
A compelling new multi-sensory show play described by audiences as “the ultimate 3D live interactive experience” is to head to Brighton Dome for three days this December.
Part love story, part mythical quest, The Forest places audiences at the heart of the action in a mysterious wooded glade. The immersive, hour-long performance allows everyone to experience the smell of the forest before a storm, the feel of raindrops on their palms and the sounds of birds singing overhead or twigs cracking underfoot.
Theatre company Frozen Light devised the accessible, inclusive production especially for teenagers and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). For many in the audience, says Frozen Light co-artistic director Amber Onat Gregory, it will be their first time in a mainstream theatre venue. She says: ‘We want to enable people who rarely attend high street arts venues to experience the theatre. We hope to reach as many people with PMLD as possible.’
Lucy Garland, co-artistic director, adds: ‘Through putting accessible theatre into theatre venues we hope to increase the visibility of people with PMLD and create activities for them to access within their local community.’
After a premiere in May at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, Colchester based parent Sharon Slade, who saw the show with her daughter Lauren, said: ‘It was a sensory extravaganza…Lauren was totally transfixed’.
The plot of The Forest involves a journey of self-discovery for the main characters, Thea (Gregory) and Robin (actor and musician Al Watts). Both dream of escaping their humdrum hometown existence, and a series of unexpected events, explained by caretaker of the forest and storyteller Ivy (Garland), result in an adventure into the forest, which changes their lives forever.
Performing to an intimate audience, the three-strong cast accompanies the audience from the foyer into the performance space, ensuring a smooth transition into the theatre environment. One-to-one interactions include singing directly to an audience member, or offering a prop to be explored through touch. Specially composed music is integrated throughout the performance.
Frozen Light launched in 2013 as a response to the fact that arts venues rarely cater for audiences with complex disabilities, although theatres are improving accessibility and offering relaxed performances for people who wouldn’t usually access the theatre. The Guardian recently published a good practice piece by Frozen Light on how to stage shows for people with profound disabilities.
For further enquiries, please contact our press team:
Emma Robertson, Head of Press & PR - [javascript protected email address] | 01273 260803
Chris Challis, Senior Press Officer – [javascript protected email address] | 01273 260838
Anna Whelan, Digital Marketing Officer – [javascript protected email address] | 01273 260825
Ticket Office - 01273 709709 | brightondome.org
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For further enquiries, please contact our press team:
Emma Robertson, Head of Press & PR - [javascript protected email address] | 01273 260803
Chris Challis, Senior Press Officer – [javascript protected email address] | 01273 260838
Anna Whelan, Digital Marketing Officer – [javascript protected email address] | 01273 260825
Ticket Office - 01273 709709 | brightondome.org
Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
Notes To Editors:
• Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival manages a year round programme of arts at Brighton Dome – a three space, Grade 1 listed building made up of the Concert Hall, Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre - and produces the annual Brighton Festival in May.
• It aims to champion the power of the arts, to enrich and change lives, and to inspire and enable artists to be their most creative.
• Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival Ltd is a registered arts charity
• Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival are working with the Royal Pavilion & Museums on a joint masterplan to realize a future vision for the Royal Pavilion Estate. For updates and news please click here.