In March, we’ll be running a free two day Mask Making Residency for Veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS/PTSD) and health professionals who care for them.

The two-day residency, delivered by highly-experienced Vamos Theatre practitioners with the help of a Veteran trained by the company, is designed to be a fun, informal and creative chance to explore practical mask making, and participants will learn how to make a full face mask from scratch. Everyone will be guided through the stages of making and painting the mask, and there’s no need for previous art or theatre experience.

After previous residencies, Veterans have commented on how enjoyable they’ve found the course, not only because practical mask making is challenging and interesting, but because creating the masks can be calming and meditative and beneficial to mental health.

One of the participants in a Mask Making workshop held in 2018 alongside Help for Heroes commented, "With the support, I was able to produce a mask, which I did not believe I could have done on the first morning. It also showed mindfulness can come in many different forms!”  

Rachael Savage, Artistic Director of Vamos Theatre added: “We’re grateful to all the Veterans who’ve attended previous Mask Making Residencies for letting us know how impactful and beneficial they have been, and the importance of continuing to offer them to Veterans whenever we can. The residencies are always relaxed and informal events and I’ve been incredibly impressed by the commitment, attention to detail and creativity that Veterans bring. I’m very much looking forward to this one.”

The Mask Making Residency runs on March 23rd and 24th 2019, from 10-4:30pm at Worcester Arts Workshop in central Worcester. Places are free (including lunch), but are limited, so if you are interested please get in touch soon.

Click here for more information and booking.