Groundbreaking Show for Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities Audiences on Tour

Frozen Light theatre company are taking Home, their latest bold and exciting production, devised specifically for audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) on an extensive tour of England, Scotland and Wales. This is the most ambitious tour yet for the company that was specifically formed to create new work for those with complex disabilities. In total it takes in 59 dates (many with 2 performances a day) at 41 venues around England, Scotland and Wales.

Exploring a new and unknown world, Home immerses audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) in a multi-sensory story of discovery. Frozen Light devised this accessible and inclusive production especially for teenagers and adults with PMLD.

For many in the audience this will be their first time in a mainstream theatre venue. Frozen Light co-artistic director Amber Onat Gregory said 'We want to enable people who rarely attend high street arts venues to experience the theatre. With this tour, we hope to reach as many people with PMLD as possible.'

The play follows Scarlet and Olive in a world that is not how they remember it. Where are they now and where is their home? The pair must learn how to survive and create a future together in an environment that is full of surprises. Will the stars shine on this unexpected friendship? And how will they face the challenges that lie ahead?

Performing to an intimately sized audience, the three-strong cast accompanies the audience from the foyer into the performance space, ensuring a smooth transition into the theatre environment.

One-to-one interactions with the audience include singing directly to an audience member and offering props to be touched and closely examined. Specially composed music is integrated throughout the performance.

'The palpable joy of the audience, many witnessing live performance in a theatre environment for the first time is a wonder to behold.' Sarah Holmes, Chief Executive, New Wolsey Theatre.

Susan Elkin, (of The Stage) on seeing a preview commented 'Home is powerful piece of theatre about loss, separation, fear, loneliness, reconciliation, hope and rebuilding relationships - human life, in fact. These are all things that matter just as much to people with PMLD as much as they do to anyone else.'

Lucy Garland, Frozen Light's other co-artistic director, added 'By putting accessible theatre into theatre venues rather than centres or homes we hope to increase the visibility of people with PMLD and create activities for them to access within their local community.

Frozen Light launched in 2013 as a response to the fact that arts venues rarely cater for audiences with complex disabilities, although theatres are improving accessibility and offering relaxed performances for people who wouldn't usually access the theatre. The Guardian recently published a good practice piece by Frozen Light on how to stage shows for people with profound disabilities. In 2016 they presented the first ever Edinburgh Fringe show for audiences with PMLD (at The Pleasance) selling out all performances and being immediately invited to return. It is hoped that Home will perform at the 2017 Fringe.

7, 8 March
Didcot Cornerstone Arts Centre, 5 Station Rd, Didcot OX11 7NE

11am & 1.30pm £15 01235 515144 www.cornerstone-arts.org

9 March
Newbury Arlington Arts Centre, Mary Hare, Newbury RG14 3BQ
11am & 1.30pm £13 01635 244246 www.arlingtonarts.co.uk

10 March
Cardiff Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton CF5 1QE

11am & 1.30pm 029 2030 4400 www.chapter.org

13 March
Hereford The Courtyard Theatre, Edgar Street HR4 9JR
11am & 1.30pm £12 01432 340555 www.courtyard.org.uk

14, 15 March,
Birmingham mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH
11am & 1.30pm £10 0121 4463232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

16, 17 March,
Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Rd EX4 4QB
6.30pm £10 01392 726363 www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

20 March,
Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street SP1 3UT
11am & 1.30pm £10 01722 321744 www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk

21 March
Eastleigh The Point, Leigh Road SO50 9DE
11am & 1.30pm £10 02380 652333 www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk

22, 23 March
Wolverhampton Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street WV1 1SE
11am & 1.30pm £5 01902 321321 www.wlv.ac.uk/arena-theatre/

28, 29 March
Nottingham Playhouse Wellington Circus NG1 5AF
1.30pm & 6pm (28th), 11am & 1.30pm (29th) £10 0115 941 9419 www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

30, March
Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, Brayford Pool LN6 7TS
11am & 1.30pm £8 01522 837600 www.lpac.co.uk

31 March, 1st April
Leicester Attenborough Arts Centre, Lancaster Rd bLE1 7HA

11am & 1.30pm £10 0116 252 2455 www2.le.ac.uk/hosted/attenborougharts

25 April,
Aberdeen The Lemon Tree, 5 West North St AB24 5AT
11am & 1.30pm 01224 641122 www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/the-lemon-tree

26 April
Glenrothes Rothes Hall, Kingdom Shopping Centre KY7 5NX

11am & 1.30pm 01592 611101 www.onfife.com

27, 28 April,
Glasgow The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road G34 9JW
11am & 1.30pm 0141 276 9696 www.platform-online.co.uk

29 April
Stirling Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling FK9 4LA
11am & 2pm £10.50 01786 466 666 www.macrobertartscentre.org

3 May
Reading, South Street Arts Centre, 21 South St, Reading RG1 4QU

11am & 1.30pm 0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.com

4 May
Farnham Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square GU9 7QR
11am & 1.30pm 01252 745444 www.farnhammaltings.com

5, 6 May
London Ovalhouse, 52-54 Kennington Oval SE11 5SW
11.30am & 1.30pm £14 020 7582 7680 www.ovalhouse.com

9, 10 May
Hull Hull Truck Theatre, 50 Ferensway HU2 8LB
11am & 1.30pm £10 01482 323638 www.hulltruck.co.uk

12 May
Scarborough Stephen Joseph Theatre, Westborough YO11 1JW
11am & 1.30pm 01723 370541 www.sjt.uk.com

16 May,
Taunton Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, School Road TA2 8PD
11am & 1.30pm £10 01823 414141 www.tacchi-morris.com

17, 18 May
Dorchester Dorchester Arts Centre, Corn Exchange, High East Street DT1 1HF
11am & 1.30pm 01305 266926 www.dorchesterarts.org.uk

19 May,
Corsham The Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9HX
11am & 1.30pm 01249 701628 www.poundarts.org.uk

22, 23rd May
Newcastle Northern Stage, Barras Bridge NE1 7RH
22 May (1.30pm & 6pm), 23 May (11am & 1.30pm) £15.50 0191 230 5151

24 May
Liverpool Unity Theatre,1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG

11am & 1.30pm 0844 873 2888 www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk

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