The Identity Choir co-produced by Anna-Helena McLean and Andrew A C Cooper

Описание: Produced and directed by Anna-Helena McLean and Andrew A C Cooper
An ACT International collaboration with Lifesize CIC

Film by Thomas Siriani
www.wethinkwecanfly.co.uk

Special thanks to all the participants, carers and families who made this beautiful exchange possible and to White Rock Theatre and their team for making us feel so safe and at home.

With generous funding support from Arts Council England

This film was shot during a ‘relaxed’ performance with The Identity Choir that was developed over 6 workshops that took place at Stables Theatre and White Rock Theatre Hastings between April and July 2025.

This event was one outcome from a project called 'A Voice Lesson' conceived and led by Anna-Helena McLean (who leads a company called ACT INTERNATIONAL). The idea for the performance was developed through 2 Britten Pears Artist Residencies and doctoral research into 'listening across differences' at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The work has been made possible thanks to our partners and Arts Council England funding in 2023 and 2024.

www.moonfool.com

By creating a choir that celebrates Differences, locally based organisations ACT and Lifesize open questions of agency, expression and belonging for community audiences. These workshops will continue in 2026. The team are working together with all parties to build a sustained community, shared practice, accessible production pack sharing EDIA findings with other organisations alongside a touring production.

TAKING PART

The work is fully accessible and families and carers are also actively contributing and newcomers always welcome.

Through creative, fun exercises and the use of soundscapes, up to 12 participants will be supported in stretching and flexing their unique vocal sound.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Vocal engagement
Drawing pictures with sound
Interactive music making
Feeling confident

HOW TO JOIN:

Email: [email protected]
with a short sentence about you and anything you need us to know on the day.

This workshop welcomes individuals with learning disabilities, those who identify as neurodivergent and those with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

MORE DETAILS

This 4-hour taster workshop with music leaders Anna and Andy is designed to celebrate your unique vocal beauty.

Through creative, trust-building exercises and the use of soundscapes, up to 12 participants will be supported through expert facilitation to feel into unique experiences of sound and shared experiences of ‘resonance’. By amplifying the vocal worlds we animate every day, this taster session aims to give you more control of what you do with the sounds you already make, while inspiring you to get ever more playful with them too.

We will use breath, voices and instruments too (cello, drum, harmonium, trumpet), to build soundscapes and atmospheres. Sonic worlds that allow the imagination and body to open and make new connections with others.

The focus of the session will be building the relationship between our bodies and the sounds it makes.

The free form environment will encourage improvisation, inviting leaders and co-makers alike to ‘give up control’ and celebrate the magic of feeling connected through differences.