Adventuring to the UK to participate in a creative exchange with Vamos Theatre was a dream come true. Although I had no idea what to expect, I felt instantly at home, comfortable, and well-taken care of. The first photo taken from our exchange summarizes it all - we were excited, eager to see what the day would bring, and happy to be there.
On that first day, we met Rachael at the Vamos Theatre van to head to a workshop at Sense, an organization supporting folks with disabilities and complex needs. We travelled to Birmingham, chatting away, learning more details about how our work intersects, laughing, and discussing the activities and participants for the workshop. The journey flew by because it was so joyful!
As a teaching artist, I've worked in a variety of settings with people of all abilities and I feel I'm able to adapt to a variety of places and meet people where they're at. And, this workshop with Vamos Theatre at Sense was a masterclass in trust and empowerment for participants. When witnessing the attention, care, and clarity which Honor and Rachael took with each participant, I was BLOWN AWAY, and immediately saw how I could make improvements to my own practice. There is a level of caution people take when working with individuals with complex needs, sometimes at the expense of their autonomy and trusting their capabilities. Vamos Theatre’s approach allows for each participant to be seen as their full self. Everyone gets to make choices, participate on their terms. There is ritual in these workshops, allowing participants to build on each activity, first with prop and sensory play, mask exploration, and then moving into scenes that open up dialogue and help participants and caretakers think critically about consent and autonomy. The workshop ends with the most gentle of parachute games and then a dancing departure. Everything was joyful. It was inspiring to see the level of trust and gratitude the team displayed when working with each person, the eye contact, the subtle non-verbal cues, indicating safety and kindness. What I witnessed on the first day of our exchange was the ethos of Vamos Theatre - intentional, open, overwhelmingly generous, and expert. It makes me smile just thinking about it. I've learned so much and am immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to witness, learn, and grow from the Vamos Theatre way. I look forward to our next exchange, for I know, I will be back!
Christina D. Eskridge
Founder & Executive Director,
Elevate Theatre Company
Our final day with Vamos Theatre ended with a mask workshop in Chichester, and it could not have been a better conclusion.
Up until that point, I had already been moved by the work of Vamos Theatre and by the care, intelligence, and artistry behind what they do. But the mask workshop brought me into it in a different way.
As a visual arts professional, performance is not my natural territory. Putting on a mask and trying to communicate without my face felt unfamiliar right away. I had to think more about what my body was doing.
What struck me most was the power of nonverbal communication. When working in mask, you can't rely on facial expression and that changes everything. Suddenly, the smallest gesture matters: a slight tilt of the head, the repeated smoothing of clothes, a shift in weight, a held stillness. All of it carries meaning.
That stayed with me after the workshop ended. I found myself noticing people differently. The way someone stood while waiting. The way a person folded into themselves or leaned forward. The way hesitation, confidence, worry, or warmth could show up in posture without a word being spoken. That, to me, says a lot about the impact of Vamos Theatre. Their work opens up another layer of seeing. It reminds us that communication can be subtle, and that emotion does not need to be overstated to be powerfully felt.
Sometimes an experience gives you information. Sometimes it gives you understanding. My time with Vamos Theatre gave me both. Saying goodbye to Rachael and Honor was emotional. After our shared time together, it was hard to part. I left feeling grateful, energised, and with a much deeper understanding of the power of Vamos Theatre’s work. I am already looking forward to the next time our paths cross.
Melanie Franklin Cohn
Executive Director
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
Vamos’ work is increasingly important, relevant and necessary. So glad that the reach of the company and its ethos is ever wider - brava!
ReplyThank you David, and for all your past and continuing support x
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