PROJECTS
Where possible, Naked Frank Theatre aim to capture and share as much of their working process with the general public as possible. Unfortunately, due to the sensitive nature of some of their projects, it is not always possible to visually share the content.
THE TRAP 
PISSED OFF POETRY
OUT BEYOND HER SHORE
HIGH TIDE FESTIVAL
GYRUS AND THE FOREST
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THE ANGEL OF DECEMBER
TALES OF THE MONSTERS IN MY HEAD
JUST IN THE SAINT NICK OF TIME
BEFORE IT STARTS
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WHO SPILT SANTA'S SECRET?
BUT THEN IT BEGAN...
BANTER VS BULLYING
CATCH ME IF I FALL
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FORENSIC SERVICES
Due to the highly sensitive nature of much of the work that Naked Frank Theatre conduct, it is not always possible to keep the public informed on every up and coming project or workshop. Where possible, Naked Frank Theatre endeavour to ensure that the public are well informed about their future work, and thank their audiences for understanding that the privacy and confidentiality of vulnerable participants remains their highest priority.
SINGING
In 2016 Naked Frank Theatre were commissioned by Oxleas NHS Trust to explore singing and music with patients on long term stay in medium secure facilities. Originally launched as a short term project to help mental health patients with their recovery and rehabilitation, Oxleas extended the commission into a long term rolling programme that has been running ever since.
Weekly sessions engage patients in social singing classes that encourage freedom of speech and individual expression. Rhythm, percussion, time signatures, pitching, tone, breath control and harmonies are explored within the hour. Patients are encouraged to interpret music and lyrics in their own personal style and add their own flair onto well known songs.
"Individual expression is the most important part of the project. We're not interested in creating singers or musicians; we just want patients to feel safe to be themselves and enjoy the music in whatever way they want to. For some patients the sessions provide an escape from the outside world, for others it's a chance to socialise and spend time with friends. Whatever the reason, everyone is welcome."
In 2016 Naked Frank Theatre were commissioned by Oxleas NHS Trust to explore singing and music with patients on long term stay in medium secure facilities. Originally launched as a short term project to help mental health patients with their recovery and rehabilitation, Oxleas extended the commission into a long term rolling programme that has been running ever since.
Weekly sessions engage patients in social singing classes that encourage freedom of speech and individual expression. Rhythm, percussion, time signatures, pitching, tone, breath control and harmonies are explored within the hour. Patients are encouraged to interpret music and lyrics in their own personal style and add their own flair onto well known songs.
"Individual expression is the most important part of the project. We're not interested in creating singers or musicians; we just want patients to feel safe to be themselves and enjoy the music in whatever way they want to. For some patients the sessions provide an escape from the outside world, for others it's a chance to socialise and spend time with friends. Whatever the reason, everyone is welcome."
CREATIVE WRITING
Naked Frank Theatre's creative writing sessions help patients on long term stay in medium secure facilities to explore their own artistry and express themselves in a safe, nurturing and professional environment. Commissioned by Oxleas NHS Trust in 2018 the sessions support mental health patients with their recovery and rehabilitation.
Weekly sessions engage patients in creative and expressive writing classes that encourage freedom of speech, individual expression, social interaction, collaboration and self reflection. The basics of writing, use of punctuation and grammar, realisation of an idea, building tension and drama and analysis of other writers are explored within the seventy five minute session. Patients are encouraged to interpret writing in their own personal style. Poetry, stage plays, screen plays, fiction, non-fiction, song lyrics and journals are investigated within the classes. Selected segments of writing are submitted for consideration to the Koestler Awards; a prison arts charity that encourages ex-offenders to change their lives through taking part in the arts.
"Ability isn't of interest here. The sessions aren't about making playwrights. Anyone with feelings can put pen to paper. That's what we're interested in; sharing your thoughts, feelings and desires."
Naked Frank Theatre's creative writing sessions help patients on long term stay in medium secure facilities to explore their own artistry and express themselves in a safe, nurturing and professional environment. Commissioned by Oxleas NHS Trust in 2018 the sessions support mental health patients with their recovery and rehabilitation.
Weekly sessions engage patients in creative and expressive writing classes that encourage freedom of speech, individual expression, social interaction, collaboration and self reflection. The basics of writing, use of punctuation and grammar, realisation of an idea, building tension and drama and analysis of other writers are explored within the seventy five minute session. Patients are encouraged to interpret writing in their own personal style. Poetry, stage plays, screen plays, fiction, non-fiction, song lyrics and journals are investigated within the classes. Selected segments of writing are submitted for consideration to the Koestler Awards; a prison arts charity that encourages ex-offenders to change their lives through taking part in the arts.
"Ability isn't of interest here. The sessions aren't about making playwrights. Anyone with feelings can put pen to paper. That's what we're interested in; sharing your thoughts, feelings and desires."
RECORDING STUDIO
In 2023 Naked Frank Theatre were commissioned by Oxleas NHS Trust to support mental health patients with their recovery and rehabilitation by providing pop up recording studios onsite at inpatient facilities.
Providing accessible opportunities for vulnerable people to actively engage in producing music without restriction is at the forefront of this project. Sessions are run onsite at facilities. Patients engage in group activities to produce their own beats, write their own lyrics, rehearse their material in front of the microphone, record their tracks within the pop up booth, and edit their track into a finalised version ready for conversion onto their own personal hard drives.
"There's something about music that makes communication accessible. The struggles in a patients head are primarily a solitary experience until the headphones go on and they hear the beat. This process is about giving vulnerable people room to play and cultivate a relationship with beats and rhythm to tell their stories and share their experiences. Ultimately, it’s about forming tangible bonds with creative practices to ensure patient engagement with them exceeds well beyond the time frame of this project. "
In 2023 Naked Frank Theatre were commissioned by Oxleas NHS Trust to support mental health patients with their recovery and rehabilitation by providing pop up recording studios onsite at inpatient facilities.
Providing accessible opportunities for vulnerable people to actively engage in producing music without restriction is at the forefront of this project. Sessions are run onsite at facilities. Patients engage in group activities to produce their own beats, write their own lyrics, rehearse their material in front of the microphone, record their tracks within the pop up booth, and edit their track into a finalised version ready for conversion onto their own personal hard drives.
"There's something about music that makes communication accessible. The struggles in a patients head are primarily a solitary experience until the headphones go on and they hear the beat. This process is about giving vulnerable people room to play and cultivate a relationship with beats and rhythm to tell their stories and share their experiences. Ultimately, it’s about forming tangible bonds with creative practices to ensure patient engagement with them exceeds well beyond the time frame of this project. "
S.E.A.T.S PROGRAMME
The S.E.A.T.S Programme (Service-User Education in Acting, Theatre and Singing) is a part-time participation programme designed to engage individuals suffering with poor mental health and/or who display anti-social behaviours, in performing arts training. Participants have the opportunity to explore, discover and express in an environment that is safe, supportive and nurturing of the unique skills, abilities and creativity of each artist. The S.E.A.T.S Programme focuses heavily on the growth of personal reflection, self expression and autonomous thinking. The vocational training is provided under industry based conditions, allowing participants to fully stretch and challenge their technical abilities, theatrical knowledge and understanding of professional conduct.
"Singing, dancing, talking, laughing, crying..they are all forms of self-expression; something which remains fundamental to being human and experiencing normality. That's the beauty of performing arts training. You are given a platform to safely explore all of these very basic and primitive states without fear of judgement or prejudice. We want every individual to have the opportunity to learn new skills, refine techniques and make valuable connections along the way. It's more than just a training programme; it's a snap shot into community living, employment and working. It's about providing individuals with a playground to test out ideas, make mistakes, fail and try again. The professional demands are real, so the support network that comes with it is even stronger."
Participants, under role-play conditions, have the opportunity to practice scenarios and explore interactions that would otherwise go untested. The building of resilience, understanding boundaries and learning to cope with the stresses and strains of daily life, are at the forefront of the programmes focus.
"The S.E.A.T.S Programme is an empowerment project, setting individuals up with the tools to take control of their mental state and take responsibility for their decisions and actions. The first step to recovery is having the confidence to make your own decisions and shape your future."
The S.E.A.T.S Programme (Service-User Education in Acting, Theatre and Singing) is a part-time participation programme designed to engage individuals suffering with poor mental health and/or who display anti-social behaviours, in performing arts training. Participants have the opportunity to explore, discover and express in an environment that is safe, supportive and nurturing of the unique skills, abilities and creativity of each artist. The S.E.A.T.S Programme focuses heavily on the growth of personal reflection, self expression and autonomous thinking. The vocational training is provided under industry based conditions, allowing participants to fully stretch and challenge their technical abilities, theatrical knowledge and understanding of professional conduct.
"Singing, dancing, talking, laughing, crying..they are all forms of self-expression; something which remains fundamental to being human and experiencing normality. That's the beauty of performing arts training. You are given a platform to safely explore all of these very basic and primitive states without fear of judgement or prejudice. We want every individual to have the opportunity to learn new skills, refine techniques and make valuable connections along the way. It's more than just a training programme; it's a snap shot into community living, employment and working. It's about providing individuals with a playground to test out ideas, make mistakes, fail and try again. The professional demands are real, so the support network that comes with it is even stronger."
Participants, under role-play conditions, have the opportunity to practice scenarios and explore interactions that would otherwise go untested. The building of resilience, understanding boundaries and learning to cope with the stresses and strains of daily life, are at the forefront of the programmes focus.
"The S.E.A.T.S Programme is an empowerment project, setting individuals up with the tools to take control of their mental state and take responsibility for their decisions and actions. The first step to recovery is having the confidence to make your own decisions and shape your future."
JOIN IN
Naked Frank Theatre curate arts and culture events, run participatory workshops, and host regular open call competitions for the public. Throughout the years the company have provided services to theatres, radio stations, youth groups, performing arts clubs, schools, colleges, universities, forensic units, mental health hospitals, charities, businesses, freelancers, and members of the general public.
"Our main outreach focus is inclusivity and the facilitation of equal opportunities with a gear towards encouraging longstanding relationships between creative practices. Arts engagement must be culturally diverse. Arts engagement should be free from constraint. Arts engagement should not be bound by elitism. Creativity is in everyone and our events are about championing a 'give it a go' attitude."
Naked Frank Theatre's engagement workshops are tailor made to suit the needs of the organisation and/or participants. The company specialise in training participants to broaden their practice in a vast range of skills and techniques including but not exclusively:
Body Language & Personal Boundaries
Breath Control, Posture, Meditation & Relaxation
Greek Chorus, Flocking & Ensemble Movement
Speech, Language, Storytelling & Narration
Singing, Harmony Arrangements & Percussion
Devising and Directing
Role Play & Improvisation
Contact Improvisation & Counter Balance
Movement & Laban Efforts
Yoga & Acro-Balance
Writing & Text Analysis
Acting Games & Play
Team Building & Bonding
Acting For Happiness & Mental Well-Being
Public Speaking & Presentation
Audition Masterclasses
Interview Technique & Panel Work
Choreography & Gesture
If you are interested in speaking with Naked Frank Theatre about workshops and events they can host with you and your organisation then please feel free to get in touch.
Naked Frank Theatre's engagement workshops are tailor made to suit the needs of the organisation and/or participants. The company specialise in training participants to broaden their practice in a vast range of skills and techniques including but not exclusively:
Body Language & Personal Boundaries
Breath Control, Posture, Meditation & Relaxation
Greek Chorus, Flocking & Ensemble Movement
Speech, Language, Storytelling & Narration
Singing, Harmony Arrangements & Percussion
Devising and Directing
Role Play & Improvisation
Contact Improvisation & Counter Balance
Movement & Laban Efforts
Yoga & Acro-Balance
Writing & Text Analysis
Acting Games & Play
Team Building & Bonding
Acting For Happiness & Mental Well-Being
Public Speaking & Presentation
Audition Masterclasses
Interview Technique & Panel Work
Choreography & Gesture
If you are interested in speaking with Naked Frank Theatre about workshops and events they can host with you and your organisation then please feel free to get in touch.
