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# FABLE NOËL: GYRUS AND THE FOREST
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. This year, in response to the social isolation felt in the wake of COVID-19, and with the added challenge of a national lockdown, the company are still managing to finds 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." Originally written for live performance; Fable Noël: Gyrus And The Forest is a traditional tale told by adults, for adults. Not panto and definitely not children’s theatre; this whimsical fable is storytelling at it’s best for big kids, who want to lose themselves in fantasy for a few minutes. Produced for mental health service-users, forensic facilities and care homes, this theatre on film production will be streamed for free to the general public and designed to specifically engage those on long term recovery plans and unable to leave facilities or see family over the Christmas period. "This project comes from a place of love and has always been intended to remind vulnerable people that they haven’t been forgotten at Christmas. 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
# FABLE NOËL: GYRUS AND THE FOREST ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Carleigh-Ann Portelli ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Claire Portelli CAST Benjamin Victor Sofia Zervudachi Vilma Kitula Carleigh-Ann Portelli Claire Portelli WRITER Carleigh-Ann Portelli STAGE MANAGER Claire Portelli FILMED BY Digital Pie Ltd PRODUCER Naked Frank Theatre FUNDED BY Arts Council England Kent Community Foundation Oxleas NHS Trust # SONG AND SOUND THERAPY
In 2016 Naked Frank Theatre were commissioned by Oxleas NHS Trust to explore singing and music with patients living permanently 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 to a long term 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 TEAM
# SONG AND SOUND THERAPY WORKSHOP LEADERS Carleigh-Ann Portelli Claire Louise Portelli PRODUCER Naked Frank Theatre FUNDED BY Oxleas NHS Trust HEAD OF PROFESSION Patsy Fung CLINICAL LEAD THERAPISTS Anna Gillespie Felicia Ajayi OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS Belinda Bowling Andrew Johnson Maximus Chifamba # CREATIVE WRITING THERAPY
Naked Frank Theatre's Creative Writing sessions help patients living permanently 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 hour. 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." CREATIVE TEAM
# CREATIVE WRITING THERAPY WORKSHOP LEADERS Carleigh-Ann Portelli Claire Louise Portelli PRODUCER Naked Frank Theatre FUNDED BY Oxleas NHS Trust HEAD OF PROFESSION Patsy Fung CLINICAL LEAD THERAPISTS Anna Gillespie Felicia Ajayi OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS Belinda Bowling Andrew Johnson Maximus Chifamba |