SAVVY Theatre | Year In Review

2023

What makes a SAVVY year?

Is it the shows we produce? From the large-scale Stepping Stones Pinocchio Project involving our entire weekly membership, local schools and community groups, to the more unique and intimate shows in our Summer Sketchbook Season that reflect the individuals we work with?

Is it the opportunities we provide to develop the talents of our members? From hosting work-experience placements for young people, to specialist volunteering programmes for those in their gap-years, to the showcasing of professional marketing artwork created for our shows?

Is it in the professional training we provide? Bringing new freelancers into SAVVY to work with our groups, providing experience to work alongside our productions, developing our members as facilitators and playwrights, training National organisations in inclusive practice, and disseminating our practice Internationally at European Conferences and with American Universities?

Is it the new partnerships? From local organisations such as Croydon College, Mind and Southleigh In-Mind Centre, to working with national artists as part of the GLA’s Liberty Festival?

Is it in the ongoing support we get? Bringing everyone into our work from participants to audience, engaging support workers, family, friends and the wider community?

This past year has had so many highlights, and although we are always moving forward, it’s also important to stop, remember, realise and appreciate the incredible journey SAVVY is on. We are always learning, always challenging, and above all … always joyous.

The Skethbook Season

The Stepping Stones Pinocchio Project

Throughout 2023 SAVVY worked with local groups Mind, the Southleigh (InMind) Community Centre, our weekly Take Part groups (including Crisis Averted), and local schools to develop work based on the themes of journey and transformation (using the original Pinocchio story as source material & inspiration). The process culminated in a shared event at Fairfield Halls, where this richly diverse and inclusive community will present a shared re-telling of this classic tale.

CLICK TO VISIT THE LEGACY WEBSITE

The Battle of Redcanyon Slings

Written by Jack Harman as part of our Centre Stage programme and performed as part of London Borough of Culture by an inclusive cast from SAVVY Theatre's Take-2 group.

Meet Jenny & Sally, the Raingirl sisters who have answered the call to deal with the Hole-in-the-Boot gang, a band of nasty men who have been working their way across the wild-west, terrorising small towns. Can their gun-slinging skills really deal with the problem, or will they have to draw on other talents to defeat the gang once and for all?

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW PROGRAMME

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In Addition

We developed new partnerships, welcomed new artists, developed new courses, came up with new ideas and looked at old ideas in new ways.

Liberty Festival

Our Pop-Up players are looking for somewhere to rehearse for the Duke & Duchess's wedding day at night.

Centre Stage Programme

As part of LBoC 2023 we were able to develop the work of two of our d/Deaf & disabled members, including The Box by Jordan Adams, which had R&D sessions with professional improvisors.

Behind-the-Scenes Training

As part of LBoC we provided introductory workshops, work experience placements and professional experience in areas such as marketing, lighting & sound technicals, workshop facilitation and costume & prop design.

Short Courses

An opportunity for those on our waiting lists to come and experience SAVVY, exploring art forms, theatre techniques and having fun with some of our past scripts.

Professional Training

From informal facilitator games nights to day-long industry sessions on working inclusively and managing challenging behaviour for organisations including the Marlowe Theatre and Matthew Bourne's New Adventures.

Croydon College

We developed a new partnership with Croydon College to deliver their Introduction to Performing Arts course. The year ended with a devised performance in the SAVYV Studio.