Baked Bean Company benefits from theatre workshops

The Baked Beans Company, based in Battersea, won an application with the famous London theatre last year.

The Old Vic’s ‘Curtain Up’ project was devised to benefit community groups affected by the pandemic.

The programme involves three professional theatre workshops and two live performance screenings with actors in Beans in Education (B.I.E) throughout December 2020 and January 2021

These include character workshops and live streams of storytelling, props and puppetry.

Baked Bean Company/ Old Vic workshop

Baked Beans Company/ Old Vic workshop

According to Events Co-ordinator Hannah Wescombe, acting has helped actors with learning disabilities grapple with the impacts of COVID-19.

“Involvement from an outside theatre company like the Old Vic shows our actors that there is still a world happening out there.”

“Many of our actors have been at home since March shielding. Bridging the gap between the care world and the arts is so important in supporting mental health,” she said.

Baked Beans Company/ Old Vic workshop

B.I.E actor Gary Butler added:

“The Old Vic workshop was amazing! After spending so much time at home, feeling imprisoned. It feels like a weight lifted to know that theatre is still out there. We need to push for more of it.”

Throughout the pandemic, the Baked Bean Company has run YouTube workshops, student socials, welfare care and therapy for over 150 members across South London.

They are currently planning a documentary about living with learning disabilties in lockdown, which will be shown at the Wandsworth Arts Fringe festival in June.

You can find out more about the Baked Bean Company here.

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