FUTUREWORLDS
This is Futureworlds, a response to the global pandemic from our unique perspective as learning disabled creatives. From our base on Sidwell Street, we have taken flight across space and time to explore our hopes and fears for the future. Over the course of the project, we made a new home at Positive Lights, a new partner in Exeter Northcott Theatre and collaborated (for the first time!) with each group across the Pelican program. Our drama group has doubled in size and we’ve tried several new creative practices with new collaborators. Thank you to our funders at Arts Council England, our carers and families for supporting us to acces the project and to the amazing team of facilitators who have helped bring our ideas to life.
Watch this space for screenings of our film, FUTUREWORLDS, over the coming weeks”
Our Pelican drama group starts the Futureworlds project with 7 participants and their drama teacher Phil.
At each of our sessions we enjoy familiar activities to get our creative juices flowing and to warm us up. Here’s Izzy with her laser gun…
… and Robbie bringing some horror to the group!
We started thinking about life in the future. Here, Chris and his powered chair formed the central part of a futuristic vehicle. Joseph used his mobility cane as the periscope.
At the same time, our street dance group choreographed interpretations of the themes explored by the drama group. Here, Caspar and his mum embody friendly aliens meeting earthlings for the first time.
The sensory group explored the Futureworlds theme by exploring the transitions from natural to mechanical and industrial environments. Libby potted the first plant in our zen garden.
Josh loved creating explosions, using his love of his favourite star wars films as inspiration.
At our Indy Art Club, where members work on individual art projects, Jason chose to develop a film looking at cinema etiquette for the post lockdown community who may have forgotten how to behave!
Back in the art group, during a Foley workshop, Joe records Georgia’s spooky footsteps to accompany an alien invasion scene.
Having looked at sustainable energy sources for the future, Kareema chose to use recycled materials to create wind turbines.
We worked with sculptor Laura Robertson to make props for the film. Kirsty and her fellow art group members chose to create a space octopus.
Jason’s final instructional film to help the Futureworld’s screening run smoothly….
The group and their dance teacher Lou choreographed wheelchair accessible routines.
Unlike the conceptual discussions in the drama group, the profound cognitive and physical disabilities within our sensory group made for unique engagements with the Futureworlds theme. It allowed us to engage with the project using all our senses.
Meanwhile, back at the drama group we began to explore the different roles that happen behind the scenes on a film set.
Patrick carefully chose songs with futuristic themes for his DJ set.
Liam and his carers particularly liked the animal (soon to be alien) sounds.
Iona helps Art group leader George arrange these wind turbines on our fabric backdrop.
Each member took on a different responsibility for bringing the space octopus together.
… and here’s Leo’s storyboard…
… and finally - here’s a sneak preview of the final project coming together!
Jono took the opportunity to spend some rare time out of his chair to express his own unique brand of freestyle breakdancing.
Sensory group members used iPads, projectors, lasers and other digital equipment to create galactic landscapes
Georgia used a handheld gimbal to capture the actors battling through an intergalactic storm
Leo began storyboarding his post-apocalyptic nature documentary.
The art group were given the task of creating a backdrop for the Futureworlds film. They chose to fabric hanging that could be installed at Positive Light Projects ready for filming. Here, Joe is fulfilling a lifelong ambition to try a sewing machine.
The dance group decided that if aliens arrived it would almost certainly be to dubstep!
We used the octopus we made in the art group as a puppet in our drama group!
Georgia visits Exeter College to update them on our Futureworlds Project