Review: Once Seen Theatre Company, Number 4 Haver Lane, The Studio, York Theatre Royal (From York Press)

Review: Once Seen Theatre Company, Number 4 Haver Lane, The Studio, York Theatre Royal

4:17pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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ON the evidence of Number 4 Haver Lane, it must be hoped that the Once Seen Theatre Company will be seen again.

Written and directed by drama practitioner Sian Williams, this devised new play about life in cramped, damp Hungate in 1901 was staged in the York Theatre Royal Studio last Friday and Saturday to full houses: testament to the important role of this York company for adults with learning difficulties.

The production was the second to be mounted as part of a two-year project supported by funding from Lloyds TSB, following on from Sian and author Kara May’s adaptation of The Dream Snatcher last year.

Under the scheme, the actors have met once a week from 10am to 3pm on Fridays in the Keregan Room at the Theatre Royal to develop their theatre skills under the umbrella of York People First, the self-advocacy group for people with learning difficulties.

“Our aim is to produce a new show each year,” says Sian, who worked for the Theatre Royal’s youth theatre for five years.

“We began with a ten-week pilot in 2007 when a group from York People First had the use of the theatre’s facilities to produce a piece of theatre, The Wrong Dance, and that helped us to establish ourselves.”

This led to York People First, the Theatre Royal and Sian putting together a bid to set up Once Seen with the Lloyds TSB funding, the sole financial support at present.

“We have come to the end of our funding, and while we’re not sure whether it will be renewed, we all want to keep it going and are looking at ways to move on,” says Sian.

Last week’s performances make a powerful case for doing so. Initially inspired by the work of the York People First History and Archaeology Club in connection with the Hungate dig, the 50-minute play portrayed life in Hungate in a tale of war and peace, young love and loss, tripe and trials in court.

Story-telling, vignettes and film stock from the Yorkshire Film Archive combined with incidental music by Dean St John and sepia-tinted silent movie spoofs filmed at York Castle Museum for the moving, humorous production. On stage, the company’s performers – Kate Hardcastle, Martin Hodgson, Becca Cooper, Shaun Lavery, Andy Pollin, Heather Martin, Laura Humphrey, Phil Scott, Peter Ridsdel, Julie Good and Claire Dobson – worked impressively in tandem with assistant director Paula Clark and Kate King.

“Doing these plays is a voice for the members, which is not always heard, and it shows how serious they are about theatre. They’re looking to be taken as seriously as other actors, and there’s a real honesty to their performances,” says Sian, who believes Once Seen can develop a new audience.

The members have relished the chance to rehearse and perform at the Theatre Royal. “Everyone else can use the theatre, so why not people with learning difficulties?” says Becca Cooper.

“It’s really good to have our theatre company based here at a professional theatre, where you feel safe as well,” says Andy Pollin. “By being at a professional theatre, we’re always challenging ourselves.”

Shaun Lavery, who is visually impaired, sums up the group’s feelings: “We love doing theatre to be part of something together, doing different things on stage we’ve never done before,” he says.

“Everyone has been able to challenge themselves in ways that maybe they didn’t think they could,” concludes director Sian. “They never say ‘No’ to a challenge.”

The next challenge will be to secure the company’s financial future, and the collective will is certainly there to do so.