Subscribe to our RSS Feed Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook


Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information from Amber Valley Info














You Are Not Logged In
Login To Amber Valley Info

Hubbub Celebrates Ten Years of Kindness

Published on Friday 2 September 2022

A pioneering integrated theatre company, based in Derby, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a special programme of performances, workshops and an exhibition.


Hubbub Theatre Company brings together learning disabled and non learning disabled actors from across the region to create original indoor and outdoor work which it performs across the UK.

It offers the only actor training programme in the East Midlands for learning disabled actors, endorsed by Derby Theatre and Déda, as well as a broad community engagement programme and training for other organisations to promote inclusive and integrated work.

The tenth anniversary celebrations will start with the premiere of ‘The Drum’ as part of Derby Festé this September. 

Hubbub Theatre Company will perform two shows in their new outdoor performance space at Markeaton Park on Saturday September 24. The performance is accompanied by opportunities to take part in drumming, bunting making and dancing and takes the audience on a colourful journey of one boy who trades acts of kindness to achieve his heart’s desire is to have a drum.

The lead actor is Bharat Singh who joined Hubbub in 2017 and has'since featured in the company's co-created work, including 'The (not so) Quiet Revolution of Kindness' at Festé 2018 and the short film 'The Silent Treatment'.

He specialises in comedy, character work and is a skilled percussionist.  He particularly loves film and was scouted for a professional paid acting role in the British indie-film ‘7 Deadly Idiots’ in 2021 with internationally acclaimed theatre company ‘Told by an Idiot’.

Bharat said: “I am very much looking forward to the audience feedback to ‘The Drum’ at Festé.  I have always enjoyed telling stories and I hope to one day make my own film to tell stories of my own or those based on true events.”

The premiere of ‘The Drum’ will coincide with the launch of a special exhibition at Hubbub’s host venue, Déda, in Derby’s Chapel Street which will highlight a decade of work with their learning disabled community across the East Midlands.  The exhibition will open in September and continue until December 2022.

Déda, which has been Hubbub’s home since 2019, will also open a new studio space this Autumn which offers Hubbub more space to develop its ground-breaking work and will support the development of Hubbub’s pioneering creative training offer ‘ The Hubbub Way’, 

This was piloted, with 100% positive feedback, in 2022 – thanks to Arts Council England funding. Based on more than 25 years of practice, Hubbub Artistic Director Jen Sumner developed this programme with support from Helen Baggett (GECKO) and the first cohort of trainees. 

The training shares Hubbub’s approach to co-creating with a diverse group of people, with kindness and equity at the heart and are available to cultural, educational and social care organisations who want to work creatively and inclusively. 

Hubbub are also hoping to offer a second intensive training programme in the near future. An event and workshop for creative professionals to learn more about the work is planned at Derby Theatre in October. 

Accompanying The Drum performance-events, Hubbub are offering creative workshops to help spread Hubbub’s message of kindness in a fun and creative way, with our ‘Agents of Kindness’.

The workshops are available to schools and organisations working with learning disabled and neuro-divergent children, young people and adults, and are designed to improve individuals’ sense of wellbeing, creative expression, self-esteem and teamworking skills.

Drama and movement therapist and creative practitioner Jen Sumner set up Hubbub in 2012. She said: “Hubbub was established to create theatre that integrates learning disabled and non learning disabled actors of the highest possible quality.

“Our work is centred on wellbeing, creativity and connection but, above all, kindness with a firm belief that every human being has a place in the world and is equal.

“We have achieved a great deal in the past ten years but there is still so much we want to do.  However, as with many other small arts organisations, our main constraints are down to lack of funding.

“Our anniversary celebrations will therefore coincide with the launch of a crowdfunding appeal in the coming months which, I hope will secure our future for the next ten years and beyond.”

Among the learning disabled actors who have developed their craft through Hubbub is Bethany Smith who has been training with the company since 2016 and particularly excels in contemporary dance and movement.

Her own choreography has been recognised in local and regional awards programmes and she also co-leads the weekly Hub community drama group.

Bethany said: “Hubbub has helped me develop my skills but more than that, it makes me feel safe and that I belong.”

Her mum, Liz, continued: “Hubbub has had a huge impact on Bethany and has given her an anchor.  It’s a community that she is a part of and is a place of kindness and acceptance.  As well as giving her opportunities in a supportive and safe environment, it’s stretching her in areas such as creativity and leadership that never seemed possible.”

For more information about the work of Hubbub and ways to support the organisation and book tickets for The Drum at Derby Festé, please visit https://hubbubtheatre.org/ 




More News From Amber Valley Info

Read Some Of The Latest News Articles From Amber Valley Info

Mayoral commendation for Ripley Hospital's League of Friends A fund-raising group at a Derbyshire hospital built by the community has been commended by the Mayor of Amber Valley for read more

Invitation to a FREE Community Concert The Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir Last year, The Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir celebrated its 120th Anniversary and toured the  read more

Councils successful swimming pool funding bid makes a big splash in Belper and Alfreton Belper Leisure Centre is celebrating another welcome funding victory following a second succe read more

Amber Valley extends public consultation for Pre-submission Local Plan Residents in Amber Valley are being consulted on the finalised submission of the boroughs Local Plan.  read more

East Midlands Orchestra Plans Dementia Friendly Performances Derby-based Sinfonia Viva, the Orchestra of the East Midlands, is planning to launch a programme of dementia-friendly cl read more




The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard

Read Some Of The Latest Posts On Our Noticeboard

Cold Callers claiming to be working on behalf of Derbyshire County Council Policehave seen and increase in reports of 'cold callers' where people are claiming to be working on behal read more

Subscriptions For Amber Valley Borough Councils 2024 Garden Waste Service Are Now Open The garden waste collection service is available to all residents in Amber Valley except for r read more

Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley boosting the speed, performance and coverage of mobile services in the area. read more

Trent Barton Buses - Extension Of The £2 Single Fare Cap Trent Barton Buses have confirmed their participation in the extension of the £2 single fare cap until the end o read more

Crich Tramway Village Looking For An Engineering Manager The successful candidate for this post will have excellent management skills gained whilst working in a practical workshop e read more







Amber Valley Local News


Mayoral commendation for Ripley Hospital's League of Friends A fund-raising group at a Derbyshire hospital built by the community has... read more

Invitation to a FREE Community Concert The Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir Last year, The Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir ... read more

Councils successful swimming pool funding bid makes a big splash in Belper and Alfreton Belper Leisure Centre is celebrating another ... read more

Amber Valley extends public consultation for Pre-submission Local Plan Residents in Amber Valley are being consulted on the finalised... read more

More news from Amber Valley











Cookies


Find out more about cookies we store on your computer.
Advertising


Find out about advertising on Amber Valley info.
Q R Codes


Find out about and download our QR Codes.
Social Media


Amber Valley Info are on Facebook and Twitter.
Legal Stuff


Read our copy of the sites terms and conditions.