GYRUS AND THE FOREST
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Since 2017, Naked Frank Theatre have been providing festive opportunities for the mental health sector throughout the Christmas period, by touring live theatre to medium secure mental health facilities in Kent. In response to the social isolation felt in the wake of COVID-19, and with the added challenge of a national lockdown, the company still managed to find ways to engage the mental health sector in the arts.
"We want to give vulnerable individuals an opportunity to celebrate together, in a time when they most need kindness and human contact. While we can’t replace the comforts of Christmas at home, we can use theatre to transport our audiences to somewhere only imaginable in their dreams."
★★★★★ Cleverly shot, precise editing and eloquent direction. Peter Yates, London Theatre 1 Click here to read the full review ★★★★ Deftly performed and interchanged. Miriam Mathew, London Pub Theatres Magazine Click here to read the full review Originally written for live performance; Gyrus And The Forest was a traditional tale told by adults, for adults. Not pantomime and definitely not children’s theatre; this whimsical fable was storytelling at it’s best for big kids who wanted to lose themselves in fantasy for a few minutes. Produced for mental health service-users, forensic facilities and care homes, the theatre on film production was streamed for free to the general public and specifically engaged those on long term recovery plans without leave from mental health facilities in Kent.
"This project comes from a place of love and has always been intended to remind vulnerable people that they haven’t been forgotten. We believe that good art and powerful theatre should be for everyone!" The show is part of Naked Frank Theatre's Noël Festival 2020; funded by Arts Council England, Kent Community Foundation and Oxleas NHS Trust. |
CREATIVE TEAM
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Carleigh-Ann Portelli CAST Benjamin Victor Sofia Zervudachi Vilma Kitula Carleigh-Ann Portelli Claire Portelli WRITER Carleigh-Ann Portelli COMPOSER James Rose PRODUCTION MANAGER Claire Portelli FILMED BY Digital Pie Ltd PRODUCER Naked Frank Theatre FUNDED BY Arts Council England Kent Community Foundation Oxleas NHS Trust |
