Spectacle Theatre

Founded in 1979 in the heart of the former Welsh coalfields, Spectacle Theatre Ltd pioneered access to live theatre and new writing (in Welsh and English), for people living in areas beset by poverty and deprivation. Through partnership working, we deliver an innovative and specialist participatory bi-lingual theatre service locally, nationally and internationally. Our charity helps tackle real life issues facing those in Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) and other areas of Wales and Europe. RCT ranks poorly in most indices of deprivation and has poor educational, employment and health outcomes when compared with other areas of Wales. Spectacle understands that life chances are influenced by the circumstances and experiences early on in life and that these circumstances can create cycles from one generation to the next. Preventative services and early intervention with families suffering from some of these challenges before they reach crisis point can have extremely positive outcomes on health and well-being, contributing towards breaking those cycles of ill-health and deprivation. Spectacle helps to tackle these issues (which cannot be viewed in isolation) and has an excellent track record of making tangible changes to people's lives. The medium through which this help is delivered is through participatory theatre workshops, performance, training and mentoring, whatever the method of engagement it is tailored to reach the hardest individuals and communities. This engagement is the first step to making the positive changes in attitude and actions which benefits not just the individual but also their family, friends and community. We use participatory methods with people of all ages who face multiple disadvantages and a combination of severe social harms such as isolation, substance misuse, mental illness, extreme poverty, violence, bullying and abuse. To this end we develop a range of participatory theatre projects that are delivered in partnership with schools and colleges, young offender's institutes, care homes, housing associations, the probation service, voluntary organisations, hospitals, social enterprises and the public sector. Our services are delivered bi-lingually. Spectacle gained charitable status in 1986 and is governed by a team of volunteers and managed by a Business Development Manager with a paid staff of three and additional volunteers with an interest in the charitable aims. The charities objects are: To promote, maintain and advance education, particularly by the production of educational theatre and the encouragement of the arts, including the arts of drama, mime, dance, singing and music and to further the development of public appreciation in the said arts. We are currently discussing our charitable aims with Wales Co-op to expand them to cover the breadth of work we undertake. Spectacle Theatre Ltd is a member of the Independent Theatre Council, Welsh Association of Performing Arts, British Actors Equity Association, TYA Cymru, and Interlink RCT. Involvement in these organisations aids Spectacle to plan co- operatively, maintain its legal requirements, and inform itself of industry developments and best practice. All staff hold enhanced DBS certificates and are trained in child protection and working with vulnerable people.