Learners in the Supported Learning Skills for Performing Arts course at Lewisham College performed Zones, a winter production showcasing their acting, dancing, movement, writing and costume-making skills. The show included a play and a music gig produced in collaboration with Rose Bruford College.
The play's theme was the Zones of Regulation, a system for regulating stress and behaviour used by many Supported Learning students. In this system, there are four zones, each with a signature colour representing a set of emotions.
Each learner wrote a story about their experience in one of the zones, and the pieces were collated into a script for the play. They also created costumes that reflected the different colours and moods represented by the zones.
The show was attended by their peers, staff, family, and friends. So many stories were told, some funny, some moving, all very real and human. Feelings were illustrated with dances and movement sequences.
A music gig followed the play with bands Fierce Lions and Kerboom! Light it up! They performed cover versions of Harry Styles, Burna Boy, Drake and BTS songs.
Blessin Tate, Skills for Performing Arts student, said: "I'm very excited and pleased to have participated in the play and music gig, everything went well, and we enjoyed performing for an audience.
"My course is inclusive, and I feel welcome and supported in the College. Working with my classmates and teachers on this project has been a great experience, as we all helped each other and worked as a team. Looking back, I'm very proud of how far we've come and what we've achieved."
Jane Morgan, Vice Principal at Lewisham College, attended the performances. She said: "At Lewisham College, we are committed to supporting a creative environment for all our learners. The winter production is one of the many projects our learners in Supportive Learning programmes participate in. It gives them a platform to share their experiences and provides an opportunity for our learners to build on their confidence and use their creativity and practical skills.
"We are very proud of our Skills for Performing Arts learners for producing and performing a moving play and exciting music gig in front of a live audience. It has been a highlight of their hard work and dedication, and we look forward to their next show."
To learn more about Supported Learning programmes offered at Lewisham College, visit lewisham.ac.uk/supported-learning
