Chichester Festival Theatre’s virtual programmes helping the community during lockdown

• How is the theatre reaching the community during the pandemic?

As soon as we knew lockdown might happen we sat down and devised a ten-week programme that we could deliver remotely. I’m so glad that we did. Now we’re working on the next programme.

• What are you doing for members of the Youth Theatre?

We keep in touch through Instagram and weekly newsletters, which include details of all sorts of challenges and tutorials. We also host a weekly Kahoot quiz. Some members have been asked to film themselves reading monologues written by excluded young people, which are really powerful pieces of writing. Our Technical Youth Theatre members are completing their Silver Arts Award and have lots of activities going on. For our young people with additional needs, we know that their whole world revolves around having good routine and structure and so we are keeping their sessions running remotely too.

• And there are some intergenerational things happening too?

Some Youth Theatre members are preparing a murder mystery for Sage House (Dementia Support). Six of them have been planning it by Zoom and this will go ahead, even if it’s in a remote fashion. We have also been showing some films that the Youth Theatre members have made for people in care homes. We have had some lovely feedback. Residents love seeing the young people’s work.

• What else can we find on the CFT website?

We have a weekly Instagram Live session based around careers in theatre and where some of our alumni have been doing amazing interviews on everything from puppetry to casting. We also have digital resource packs for home learning. Our production of The Midnight Gang is streaming, with schools throughout the UK taking it up. Beauty and the Beast is coming next. I think what we can deliver digitally, and how much further we can reach, will be the legacy of this time.

• Not everyone has access to digital world. How are you reaching these people?

We are planning ‘arts drops’. We are asking publishers and craft suppliers to donate resources we can use in activity packs. It is heart breaking to think how terribly lonely and isolated some older people are and we are trying to find ways to support them. One thing we do is use our Buddy Scheme’s ‘Buddies’ to reach out by phone. We know that this is really appreciated.

• How have you filled time during lockdown?

I’d love to say I’d taken up a fantastic new hobby, but I’ve been so busy! I have been reading Michelle Obama’s Becoming, which has been on my shelf for ages, as well as doing a bit of home DIY. I’m also learning to juggle. I can juggle four balls – but badly! I’m also planning for Pinocchio, our Christmas show. I think we really need to have that on the horizon to look forward to.

• For more information visit www.cft.org.uk or email (mailto:[email protected]|[email protected]} to offer support or resources.

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