My Resources

My resources Chicken shed Chase side Southgate London N14 4PE We are a theatre company.
We make theatre.
Extraordinary, pioneering,
challenging, dynamic, moving,
groundbreaking, genuinely inclusive,
beautiful theatre. (from the Chicken shed website)
Chickenshed is a theatre company. We work using an inclusive creative process which means everyone is welcome, and everyone is valued. Not many places are for everyone and anyone - so a lot of people who find themselves unwelcome elsewhere in the world, come to us. Chickenshed runs Children's and Youth Theatre workshops for 600 people, education courses for over 100 students, community outreach projects and a network of satellite 'Sheds' across the country (and two in Russia) so even more can benefit. Every extraordinary piece of theatre created at Chickenshed shouts out the same thing: anyone can thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome.
In 1974, musician and composer, Jo Collins, met Mary Ward, a teacher and director. With a shared belief in harnessing the creativity in everyone and anyone, they started a theatre company. In a chicken shed.

Their creative process worked. More members joined as church halls replaced the eponymous shed. In the early 1980s the company included a boy with cerebral palsy for the first time. ‘If we’re open to everyone, why is he the only one?’ asked teenage members. Enter John Bull and his pioneering work on integration. He joined with Mary and Jo and Chickenshed became the first truly inclusive theatre company. Open to everyone.

Judi Dench and Trevor Nunn joined us as pro-active Trustees. Our first CD, a record contract, TV and West End performances followed – and an increasingly public profile.

Amidst all this, 1988 was a pivotal year: Lord and Lady Rayne met Chickenshed – and Lady Rayne became our President. She introduced our work to The Princess of Wales, who ‘got’ Chickenshed, heart and mind, from the start. As our Royal Patron, she shared her time – personal and professional – and gave us genuine loyalty and unwavering support.

When Enfield Council pledged land for a theatre, it was Lord and Lady Rayne who tirelessly raised the funds to build it. In December 1994, the company moved into a beautiful flexible space. At the heart of the building sits The Rayne Theatre, named after the family who turned our dreams into reality.

From our new home, things really took off. 1995 saw our first national tour. 2 months, 20 performers, 5 cities and 20 schools, enjoyed by over 5,000 people.

For Mary and Jo, the concept of inclusion that seemed so obvious at the start is now an international movement with a mission to change the world. The awards that recognise this – two MBEs, ‘This is Your Life’, Creative Briton Award, a Snowdon Award and Honorary Doctorates included – are as much for Chickenshed as for them.

Some of the original 1970s members are still the core of our company. Most have moved on, outside performance art, but the Chickenshed experience remains within them all. Adult lives underpinned by the values and skills absorbed during their magical time at the Shed. And an understanding that diversity and inclusiveness should be a way of life.

That understanding is just as relevant for members today. Every extraordinary piece of theatre they create at Chickenshed shouts out the same thing: anyone can thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome.
INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.chickenshed.co.uk/images/history/11.108.resized.jpg?1166555019" \* MERGEFORMATINET
Links
• HYPERLINK "http://www.chickenshed.co.uk/gallery/main?item=11" Image Gallery
IPOP in barnent

(from the iPop website)
IPOP
Salisbury Road
Barnet
Herts
EN5 4JP
Our team is dedicated to providing disabled children, young people and their families with the right support to enable them to get involved with general play and leisure activities along with their friends and neighbours.
Inclusive Play Opportunities Project, or IPOP as we are widely known, is a HYPERLINK "http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?regno=1076063" \o "Charity Commission" \t "_blank" registered charity. Our formal charitable objectives are "the relief of disability and the advancement of education of children by the provision of opportunities for play and recreation and by the provision of information and assistance to the parents, families and carers of children with disabilities." IPOP has worked in the London Borough of Barnet providing play support and advice to disabled children and their families HYPERLINK "http://www.ipop.org.uk/history.php" \o "Company History" since 1994. HYPERLINK "http://www.ipop.org.uk/mission.php" \o "Our Mission" We believe that inclusive play and leisure activities are vital for the well being of all children, their families and their communities. We work towards making that happen in many ways including through individual support, our HYPERLINK "http://www.ipop.org.uk/services.php" \o "Our Support Programme" support programme and specialised HYPERLINK "http://www.ipop.org.uk/training.php" \o "Specialised Training Sessions" training sessions. IPOP is managed by a board of HYPERLINK "http://www.ipop.org.uk/whoswho.php" \o "Who's Who" Trustees, of whom at least two-thirds are parents or carers of disabled children and our Management Committee includes representation from our Youth Committee, ensuring that children and young people are and remain at the heart of our work. FACEBOOK Facebook is the world’s largest social network, with over 250 million users. TIME OUT London Your critical guide to arts, culture and going out in the capital.
Finchley Youth Theatre
142 High Rd
London, N2 9ED 020 83593540‎
Finchley Youth Theatre
If you're aged between 11 and 25 and want to tread the boards, work behind the scenes of a theatre, or just fancy making new friends, this is a great place to start. There are regular workshops in drama, dance and technical theatre skills, and regular productions.