Irresistible resilience shines forth.
The Festival Theatre presents the rather awfully nice and thoroughly inclusive – AWFEY HUGE VARIETY SHOW
Friday 16 June 2017 at 6pm.
The teasingly titled Awfey Huge Variety Show brings together the state-funded special schools in Edinburgh for a unique performance celebrating the creative talent of Young Learning Disabled Artists on Scotland’s biggest stage.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural Awfey Huge Variety show, the creative extravaganza is back in its second year with an electrifying mix of film and live performance. Created by nine schools and a group of young people from WHALE Arts Centre, the showcase features a cast of children from all over Edinburgh ranging in ages from 7 to 18.
Each school is supported by a member of the ‘Engagement Artists’ team at the Festival Theatre. The team, comprising dancers, musicians, storytellers, animators, actors, film-makers, photographers and puppeteers work with developing young artists to draw out, encourage and nurture participation in the creative arts.
This year, the the following schools and artists participating are:
Kaimes School – live dance ‘Reach for the Stars’ –
- WHALE Arts Centre – film – animation made with Gill White
- Harmeny School – Live puppet performance – made with Emma Reid
- Oaklands School – film – made with Oliver Ridgewell
- Woodlands School – Live puppet performance – made with Emma Reid
- Braidburn School – film – made with Jane McInally
- Redhall School – live storytelling with recorded narration – made with Heather Lucchesi
- Prospect Bank School – film – made with Gill White
- St Crispin’s School– film – made with Sarah Wakeford and Jane McInally
- Pilrig Park School – live dance – lively colourful -made with Nico Major
The Awfey Huge Fantastic Variety Show follows the success of Pilrig Park special school’s annual showcase, presented at the Festival Theatre for 10 years. In 2016, staff at the theatre saw the opportunity to get children from all Edinburgh special schools involved and the Awfey Huge Variety Show was born.
Cat Sheridan, Learning & Participation Coordinator says: ’We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity to these young artists to present their work on the largest stage in Scotland this June. The Trust, which runs the Festival and King’s Theatres, is fully committed to supporting the development of their voices, talents and ambitions. The Awfey Huge Variety Show puts our performers at its heart. It showcases their creativity having worked with a fantastic group of artists in their schools and it’s a great privilege for us to give these young learning disabled artists a platform.’
Tickets for The Awfey Huge Variety Show are on sale now, priced £13.50, available in person at the Festival and King’s Theatre box offices, online at edtheatres.com and by calling 0131 529 600.
