December Newsletter
Welcome to our final newsletter of 2021 and what a year it’s been! Full of new friends, new groups and new beginnings.
Last month saw several new opportunities for service users, including a Masterclass exploring Stage Combat, and workshops on co-writing, producing and directing from our friends at Part of the Main. We started the festive season early with a wonderful karaoke social event that got us in a party mood and we announced two productions that we will be taking to VAULT Festival early next year.
This month, we will be taking a brief two-week break but worry not, we will be back in January 2022 refreshed and better than ever. You can see all of the closure dates in the Workshop Schedule below and some other organisations that you can contact if you need support in our absence.
Read this newsletter to see what we’ve been up to, what we have coming up and some suggestions for staying safe and healthy during the holiday season.
December Workshop Schedule
Monthly Schedule of Activities
December 2021
If you are new to OETC and would like to participate in any of these activities then please register your interest here, and someone from our team will contact you.
Tuesdays
3:30pm-5:30pm – East London Drop-in Drama (Shiv & Tess)
6:30pm-8:30pm – East London Write Now (Tunde & Charon)
Wednesdays
3:30pm-5:30pm – West London Write Now (Stewart & Katie)
6:30pm-8:30pm – West London Drop-In Drama (Tunde & Julia)
Thursdays
12:30pm-2:30pm – Women’s Drama Group (Charon & Vicky)
Fridays
1:00pm-3:00pm – Peer-led Check-in (Liam & Billie)
The chat room is open for participants to support each other or just meet up to chat about how they are feeling. Open to all participants who have attended 1 other group previously.
6:30pm-8:30pm – South London Drop-In Drama (Julia & Shiv)
Please note that all OETC groups (excluding Peer-led Check-in) are now running a blended delivery, so you can attend in person or on Zoom. Please see below for details about changes to Service Delivery from August.
To keep up to date with the latest schedules check us out on Twitter (@OutsideTheatre), Facebook (@Outsidedgetheatre) and Instagram (@Outsidedge) every Monday! Follow us on social media to see what Outside Edge is up to.
Outside Edge Announces TWO Shows for the VAULT Festival!
We are thrilled to announce that we will be taking two shows to VAULT Festival 2022. One of the UK’s leading showcases of live performance and creative talent. We’ve previously performed at VAULT Festival in 2019 with our acclaimed production of Check-in/Check-out and we are thrilled to be back, this time with two shows, each exploring issues relating to addiction in different ways.
Drift
The dirty secret of dependency plagues Roger in his small hometown in Wales and leads him to what may literally be a dead end. When his best friend’s addiction gets out of hand, Roger must face his own demons and make the ultimate decision.
Drift is a darkly comic, tour-de-force solo show, about addiction and grief, drenched in toxic masculinity.
Starring Alexander Vlahos (Sanditon; Outlander), and directed by Matt Steinberg (Tumulus; Check-In/Check-Out), Drift is Kristian Phillips’ debut play and was a runner-up for Outside Edge Theatre Company’s inaugural Phil Fox Award for Playwriting.
Ahead of the VAULT Festival run, Drift will also tour to London-area treatment facilities.
Drift is kindly supported by:
Barefaced
What happens when a web of lies unravel, and hard truths are all that remain?
Directed by Hannah Hauer-King (The Funeral Director; Grotty; Breathe), written by Jane Bodie (Women’s Prize for Playwriting shortlist, Hampstead Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company), Barefaced is a collaborative piece about tall tales and the deceit that lives within our stories, especially in the world of addiction.
These tall tales are told by a group of bold, sometimes broken, but nevertheless brilliant characters who may not realise they are lying, or how much their lies could impact people they haven’t even met.
Performers are all members of The Company and are in recovery.
Barefaced is kindly supported by:
Sonya Hale Celebration
Thank you to all supporters of Outside Edge who joined Clean Break, Synergy Theatre Project and Outside Edge in celebrating Sonya Hale and her work at The Royal Court last month. It was a wonderful matinee performance in which we shared a collection of extracts from Sonya’s plays, directed by theatre partners who had played a part in Sonya’s career. At the event OETC Artistic Director, Matt Steinberg, announced that next year Outside Edge will be naming an award in Sonya’s memory as part of the Phil Fox Award for Playwriting.
The Sonya Hale Award
The Sonya Hale Award will recognise a writer with lived experience of issues related to addiction who has entered a script in next year’s Phil Fox Award for Playwriting. The award has been established in memory of Outside Edge Theatre Company’s Associate Theatre Facilitator, Sonya Hale, who was a former service user of the charity and acclaimed playwright. This award celebrates Sonya’s passion for writing and commitment to supporting recovery through creative engagement.If you can, please consider donating to this award below, so we amplify the work of playwrights with lived experience of addiction.
Young People’s Project Announcement
Outside Edge is pleased to announce that we will be launching a week-long project for young people (aged 14-18) that have been affected by the addiction of a loved one. During February half term the group will work with a team of two specially trained facilitators to create a short play that will be shared with an invited audience at Brady Arts Centre.
Across 5 days, the young participants will improve their confidence and wellbeing with a group of peers who have a similar lived experience. Creative activities and exercises will be designed to highlight the group’s collective skills, imagination and talents in an inclusive environment. The group is free to attend and young people don’t need to have any previous drama experience to participate.
How to apply:
If you are aged 14-18 and think this might be right for you, email admin@edgetc.org and Tess or Molly will get in touch.
If you are a parent, guardian or caregiver in recovery and would like to enrol a young person, email admin@edgetc.org and Tess or Molly will get in touch.
If you are a young person’s service, charity, school or community group and would like to know more, email admin@edgetc.org and we can arrange to send you more information or come and run a Taster Sessions for your service in the new year!
Keep an eye out for more information on our webpage here.
The Young People’s Project is generously supported by:
Moving Recovery Performance
We were thrilled to welcome back Fallen Angels Dance Theatre and reopen our ‘Moving Recovery’ group after its popularity and previous success. Over the past few months, service users old and new have joined Hannah Rudd and Paul Bayes Kitcher at Brady Arts Centre every Thursday evening to explore, move and be moved. In the lead up to the end of the term the group is inviting the Outside Edge family to join them for a special performance of their work.
‘Moving Recovery’ is our Dance and Movement group in collaboration with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre. This is an informal group for people who are in recovery or have been affected by addiction, including their family, carers and champions, using movement to improve wellbeing and unlock creativity.
Transfiguration of the Spirit
Location: Brady Arts Centre, 192-196 Hanbury Street, E1 5HU
Date: Thursday 16th December
Time: 7:00pm
This work is very personal to each performer’s own recovery journey and individual interpretation of the theme. During this module the group have experienced the transcendental change that happens when you let go of fear and find connection through structured movement meditation. This sharing captures the essence and power that transformation of the human spirit can have to heal us from the inside out.
This will be the last sharing of 2021 before Outside Edge closes for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year, so come and join us for a performance and a few mince pies!
It is free to attend but we do ask that you register by following the link below.
Peer-led Check-in – TATE TRIP
Our Peer-led Check-in group has organised an exciting in person trip to Tate Britain (near Pimlico Station), on Friday 10th December. This in person meet up will give those who are a bit ‘Zoomed Out’ the chance to meet in person and enjoy a few hours amongst friends and art!
There will be no Zoom workshop on this day.
Meet Peer Volunteers – Billie & Racheal at 12:50pm at the Information Desk at Tate Britain.
Entry is free for everyone, with a charge for some exhibitions. To make sure everyone can attend the group will only be attending the free exhibitions and there are plenty of them! Pre booking is recommended so please book your free slot here for the entry time of 1pm. If you would like OETC to make this booking on your behalf or you need any additional support then contact the office.
You will be required by the venue to wear a face covering unless you are exempt.
Karaoke Social
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a night of karaoke last month at Lucky Voice in Holborn. The evening was full of music, laughter and pizza and we were once again reminded of the amazing talent we have in our Outside Edge family.
We were reunited with old friends, made some new friends and sang our hearts out together to such classics as Sweet Caroline and Mamma Mia. We danced, we harmonised, we clapped along and tried our best to finish all of the pizza we were served. All in all the evening left us with a big smile on our face, a skip in our step and a song in our heart.
“It was so much fun to do a Karaoke Social especially after nearly 2 years of lockdown.”
“I am so glad that I came to Outside Edge as it has helped me through lockdown, especially the social events of re-engaging with people after being isolated.”
“It was such a good idea doing a proper social. It was awesome and so good to see and catch up with everyone.”
Spotlight on … Edge Two
This month we shine a spotlight on our intermediate drama group Edge Two.
Edge Two is for those who are becoming more established within their recovery and are looking for a group that works towards performance goals.
The sessions focus on theatre skills development and securing a greater understanding of drama as a tool for supporting recovery.
Every module the group decides to focus on a single skill for performance. Recent modules include:
- Movement
- Acting Through Song
- Poetry
- Text analysis
- Acting for Camera and Microphone
Each module culminates with an informal sharing of exercise material for friends and family to celebrate your achievement.
Edge Two will help you to:
– Develop theatre and performance skills
– Promote and develop understanding of the power of drama in recovery
– Foster personal confidence and communication skills
After attending Edge Two consistently for three months, participants are offered specialist training to become a Volunteer Peer Mentor or Volunteer Support Facilitator.
Who can join Edge Two:
You can join Edge Two once you have been participating in any of our Drop-In Drama groups or our Women’s Drama Group for three months. If you want to join this next module, we’d love to have you. Email Tess at admin@edgetc.org if you’d like more information.
Meet the Edge Two facilitators:
Christopher Holt
Christopher is an actor, a theatre director, a lecturer, a voice coach and a disability arts practitioner.He has worked for 30 years in professional theatre, beginning with the National Youth Theatre at the age of 15. He has worked all over Europe, appearing in shows nationally and internationally. He has performed in venues as disparate as the Moscow Arts Theatre, the National Theatre, Wembley Stadium, Royal Albert Hall and the Hen and Chickens pub in Islington.As an actor, Christopher has worked across musical theatre, straight theatre, opera and film. He has appeared in the three largest musicals in the world: Les Misérables (West End), CATS (Hamburg) and The Lion King (Original Cast, London).
Júlia Couto
Júlia has been working with Outside Edge for 5 years. You might recognise her from some of our other groups including West and South London Drop-in Drama and the Women’s Drama Group.
She studied Performing Arts (Acting) at UNIRIO in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before going on to the MA Applied Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
| Edge Two is generously supported by: |
Read Outside Edge’s Annual Report
Do you want to read about Outside Edge’s activities, impact and productions from the 2020-21 financial year? You can now review our Annual Report here. Enjoy reading about the growth of the organisation during lockdown and feedback from our service users about their experiences at Outside Edge during this time.
Community Based Christmas Activities
Crisis- Virtual Carol Service
DATE: 04 December
TIME: 6pm – 6.45pm
PRICE: FREE EVENT
Register your interest here.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Helpful addiction related Christmas articles and resources…
https://www.priorygroup.com/ free-addiction-assessment
Smart – Hints and tips to get through this Christmas
https://www.ukat.co.uk/ addiction-treatment/christmas- in-rehab-what-to-expect/
https://www. lifeworkscommunity.com/blog/ fighting-addiction-relapse-at- christmas
https://www.addictionhelper. com/addiction/addiction-and- recovery-at-christmas-4- family-stories/
If you are feeling low SANEline is open 4.30pm – 10.30pm daily. 300 304 7000.
If you are feeling despairing and need to talk call Samaritans – 24hrs a day, all year round. Tel: 116 123
Quotes of the Month
Thank you to our new supporters…
During these difficult times we would like to thank our recent supporters who have made donations to Outside Edge this month:
From Our Friends
Bounce Back are offering free mindfulness taster sessions at Brady Arts Centre on the 6th December (11am to 1pm).
This session is for everyone, and it’s completely free. They will take you through a simple body awareness practice and discuss what mindfulness is and how you can apply it in your life. Followed by plenty of opportunity for questions and a delicious hot vegan brunch. If you enjoy this taster session the Bounce Back team will be on hand to talk about how to sign up to the free 5 week course which participants can do online or in person at Breathing Space.
Support us
To continue to offer our creative activities for free we reply on the continued support of grants and donations.
If you would like to help Outside Edge through this challenging time, then please consider donating.
