BeautifulMess is…
always finding connections that make a deeper impact that the sum of it’s parts.
Collaboration is at the core of what we do.
We design workshop programmes with community groups to explore social issues and relevant topics to inspire new works, either to be performed with them in their local spaces, or developed into our professional touring productions to unlikely public places across the UK.
We support service providers to expand their breadth of engagement with ‘hard to reach’ groups. We work extensively with adults with learning disability as a highly overlooked demographic, bringing our responsive methodology of inclusive creative praxis.
Taking from a wide range of inspiring methods including dance and music therapy, intensive interaction, applied puppetry, contemporary clown, object transformation, chorus work and sensory-response, through over 7 years of practice and study for her MA Applied Theatre at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama , Artistic Director Kati Francis has developed specialised techniques of working in non-verbally dominant ways. The process opens up possibilities of communication and builds self-confidence in individual expression, connecting with others effectively and interacting with surrounding and changing environments. Unlike more traditional therapies, this is not an attempt to align behaviour with any sense of ‘normal’, but an expansion of possibilities, allowing freedom and exploration of expression whilst facilitating a space for self-advocacy as we break binary concepts of able/disabled, often working in public spaces, challenging preconceived notions of ability and creativity.
We also work with other participant groups from schools to prisons, translating the same philosophy of multi-sensory inclusive engagement facilitating acceptance, a space to play and connect, and the power of imagining possibility to develop resilience, independence and agency.
Community- Professional Collaborative productions and projects to date include:
Panchatantra and the Net of Dreams (India 2017) with Mahindra United World College and Sadhana Village
The Peace Portal (2017) with Roundhouse and Bestival
Mastery Rituals (2017) with ZU-UK and UCL
Kindness Commission: HugBag (2016) with People United, Aswarm and Chloe Osborne
The Beast of Brixton (2016) with Lambeth Disability Services
A Tale of Two Valleys (India 2015) with Mahindra United World College and Sadhana Village
Living Libraries (2014) with Lambeth Disability Services and Clapham Library
Safety in Numbers (2013) with Lambeth Disability Services
Winter Sun (2013) with Lambeth Mencap
more details and documentation available on request…
Other UK collaborators include Larkhall Autism Unit, Lambeth Council, Street Concepts CIC, Royal Greenwich, Lewisham Council, Age UK Lambeth, Metropolitan Housing, Brixton Green, OvalHouse Theatre, Tony Cealy, We are 336.