Jay Hare: “It is a really important journey”
The surveys from Equality and Human Rights Commission 2017 indicate that the employment rate for disabled people in Great Britain was 47.5% compared with 78.3% for non-disabled people. The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company set up by people with learning disabilities draws our attention. Jay Hare, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, shares the journey of it.
How it Began?
“It was set up as a group of members in August 2007, who are very talented actors and singers.” Jay wiggled his hands, “They assisted themselves over tutors and support workers to support to be a charity and they became independent as a company, having created loads of dramas, theatres and music in ten years.”
Loads of Support
Jay appreciates all the support from various organisations and communities.
“One of the challenges for all charities is to raise funds”, says Hare, rolling his eyes. “Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund does help us to run a host of exciting programs in the form of important issue-based theatres, which encourage people with learning disabilities to tell what matters to them, how to develop relationship, and how to get right independent support.”
Northern Stage supports the company as well, sharing their space and expertise in autism and the theatre they create themselves. “It is a really important journey. We play drama and music supported by Made in Newcastle. We do monthly Theatre Nights, Gig Nights, Cinema and Film Festivals, we run a club called Fresh Club Night and we do theatre shows in the TD studio, which is the home of Twisting Ducks.”
Fresh Club Night
BBC found that Twisting Ducks Theatre Company has been receiving £118,000 of funds from Newcastle City Council from 2016 to 2018.
Rob Williamson, the Newcastle Culture Investment Fund chief executive, told BBC News: “Our intention was always to complete the first round of grant-making with the council’s initial commitment, […] before considering plans for extending the fund through philanthropic gifts. Therefore, the Community Foundation has not so far made approaches for further support.”
“Support is of significance for every organization and charity, and we appreciate the support from various organisations and communities.” Jay says to us.
Talented Actors and Fantastic Stories
Being asked what story or play impressed him the most, Jay pauses for a moment, then says that he is always impressed and amazed by the talent of his members.
“Actors, directors and facilitators… it has been an interesting journey for Twisting Ducks members to produce theatres and develop their skills in 10 years,” says Jay with a smile spread over his face, “They go out and share their talent with other people and encourage them to make arts.”
“I was curious about this company at first and I got inspired when working with them,” says Bonnie Wang, a volunteer of Twisting Ducks Theatre Company since December 2016, “It is not hard to be touched by the dedication of people with learning disabilities.”
“No man is an island entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main,” says Sophie Hall, 23, who is the audience of the Band Academy at Dance City. “They are trying to get involved in the society as much as they can, and I gain strength as well.”
Jay believes that they have many interesting stories about issue-based topics and the group is growing with a host of academies and projects about autism affairs, profound multi-able people with learning disabilities. They have a wider community with hundreds of people that benefit from the charity Twisting Ducks Theatre Company.
It can be found that over 1504 people have watched their training film: ‘Trainers with learning disabilities &/or Autism’ on YouTube.
The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is promising with various support and is always looking forward to hearing from volunteers wishing to come and work alongside to help with publicity and media, to make the websites, and to support group members.
