Inclusive drama has always been a very important part of the life in Newton Dee. Plays have always brought a lot of fun and vitality to village life and helped individuals to discover hidden talents within themselves. The process of creating a play with all its challenges and demands brings community members together in a very special way and this process is a real part of community building.
Ali and Lizzie have both been very involved in the production of plays and musicals over the past few years. Ali first appeared in the Wizard of Oz but since then has been playing parts in “Bye Bye Birdy”, “King Lear”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “The Tempest”, and “A Christmas Carol”. Ali’s favourite part was in Aladdin and at present he is rehearsing a part in “Our Town”.
Ali and Lizzie both took part in a week-long workshop to create an audio play, “The Seasons”, written by Russ Pooler. Ali was the narrator while Lizzie played the young village woman and was very involved in the creation of sound effects and the singing.
Lizzie particularly enjoyed creating the sound of a collapsing building by throwing down wooden pallets from a height and creating the sound of a boat being built by hammering and sawing pieces of wood.
Lizzie’s favourite play was, “A Christmas Carol”, where she played the part of Mrs Fezziwig and had fun dancing with Ali who was playing Mr Fezziwig. Lizzie enjoys being in any play but she is hoping that soon there will be a musical on offer, fingers crossed.