About Firebird
Introduction
Firebird Theatre is a Company of disabled artists based in Bristol. It is an associate company of Bristol Old Vic. Firebird Theatre work as an ensemble.
We are experienced, disabled performers/actors with a consistent track record and history of making plays and performances together for over twenty five years. We used to be called the Portway Players but we changed our name to Firebird Theatre when we became an independent Company in 2005.
Our main areas of work include:
To be an independent theatre company of disabled actors
To perform plays
To show our work to as many people as possible
To link up with other actors, theatre companies, theatres and new audiences
To develop and become more professional
To work together
To become more well known
To support and involve other disabled people in our work, especially children and young people.
We want to be able to give our way of telling stories to the whole world. We want to share our plays with as many people as possible. We want to make our audiences think about the stories we have told them. We want to be seen as professional actors who can learn together and help other people to learn from us. We believe people should work together; it is our vision for the world.
We see ourselves as a family of actors with a job to do; to use our style of theatre: music, devised work and text to make performances that tell stories to our audiences. We aim to reach as many people as we can, through our plays and our workshops, through linking up with our audiences and the people we come into contact with.
We want to make theatre and tell stories that will stay in people’s heads long after they leave the theatre and go home.
Our job is to make performances that are for everyone no matter who they are and where they come from. We want to give new meanings and understandings to the stories we tell. What our plays do is tackle life and that is what we want to share with other people: that is what Firebird Theatre does.
Please click here to read a copy of the Firebird Charter, written summer 2017.
Firebird Theatre Documentary
This film was made by Ann Pugh of Redweather Productions in 2007. Although many things have changed and developed in Firebird since this film was made, it still captures the essence of Firebird Theatre and the Company. This film also serves as a memory of Ann’s wonderful work with us (Ann Pugh 1955 – 2015). There are many films on this website made by Ann, particularly The Breadhorse films on the ‘shows’ page and by Frank Spencer, Ann’s partner, also from Redweather Productions.
Who We Are
These are the Company members who participated in Firebird’s most recent project, ‘The Pull of the Tide’
Members of the Company
Daniel Bryan, Steve Canby, Penny Goater, Kevin Hogan, Tina Kelly, Mary Lansdown, Sarah McGreevy, Marilyn Rees, Olivia Watkins, Chris Wiltshire, Sharlie Yea and Resident Musician: Ed Goater.
Directors/Trustees
Mel Scaffold (Chair); Laura Jeffery; Antigoni Messaritaki; Jo Cuthbert; Judith McGreevy (Treasurer); Christina May (Company Secretary)
Why Theatre is Important to Us
When we make performances, we work as a team; the most important thing to know about us is that we believe that power comes when we all work together as a group, as an ensemble. When we make theatre, we all bring our different skills, ideas and experiences and we share together to make a play. We are all important to the company, each one of us; no one is the star.
Theatre is important to us because we can show people what we can do; people used to think disabled people with learning difficulties couldn’t do anything but when we get on that stage we can show people what we can do. Theatre is important because people see our plays, and we hope they will change any wrong ideas they might have about us.
Making plays is very powerful, it makes you feel part of the action, makes you feel confident. Making plays means you have something important to say, something important to share. It is about our lives, too. We put our own selves into a play so that people will learn something about us and that is important, as well.
Partners & Collaborators
We are lucky and honoured to work with a number of partners who have supported our work and helped us develop as a Theatre Company.
PARTNERS
Bristol Old Vic – We first worked at Bristol Old Vic in 1990 when we did our first play in the professional theatre: Yellow Sun, Red Moon. Since then we have developed a very special relationship with the Theatre, that have given us a lot of practical support, shared their expertise with us and we always premiere new work at the Old Vic. We have received fantastic support over the years and we would like to thank all the staff for their support over the years, it means everything to us.
MAYK – a theatre producing company that works with Firebird to produce our shows; a hugely important role for achieving most of Firebird’s aims and objectives
Theatre Bristol – Theatre Bristol has supported us with business planning, company development and finance.
COLLABORATORS
Kathryn Hunter – Firebird’s Patron.
Kim Lawrence, producer for Faustus and The Tempest
John Nicholson, co direction and workshop leader for Faustus and The Tempest.
Tristan Sturrock, co direction and workshop leader for The Nine Lessons of Caliban and The Breadhorse
Adrian Lee, member of The British Paraorchestra: A Spark and a Beating Heart
Mark Richardson (musician): Breadhorse and Prospero, Duke of Milan
Pete Judge (musician): Sharing the Stars
Sarah Moody (musician): The Tempest, The Nine Lessons of Caliban and The Breahorse
Annette Dunn (musician): Faustus
Vanessa Luckwell (musician): The Clowns and The Chalk Circle.
Ruby Spencer Pugh (designer): A Spark and a Beating Heart and Prospero, Duke of Milan
Dan Ashcroft (costume designer): The Breadhorse.
Ann Pugh (Redweather Productions): The Tempest; The Lying Doctors; The Nine Lessons of Caliban and The Breadhorse
Frank Spencer (Redweather Productions): A Spark and a Beating Heart and Propsero, Duke of Milan:
Claire Williamson (poet) A Spark and a Beating Heart; The Breadhorse; The Nine Lessons of Caliban and The Tempest
Photographers: Paul Blakemore; Graham Burke and David Gilliland
Production and Stage Management: Gemma Brooks; Anna Griffiths; Jo Cuthbert, Jay Costello Roberts and others from Bristol Old Vic;
Lighting design: Ben Dodds for A Spark and a Beating Heart; Tim Streader for The Breadhorse.
Firebird History: 1988–2005
Firebird Theatre was first established in 1988 as the Portway Players. The company evolved through meetings at the Portway Centre, a Bristol Social Services resource and activities day centre (RAC) for disabled people with learning difficulties. Prior to its inception, the members and staff at the RAC had undertaken an active research project funded by the Norman Holm Benefaction Fund made available through Doctor Dorothy Heathcote, Professor of Drama in Education, and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The purpose of the research was to establish genuine links between the RAC and people who lived and worked in the local community of Shirehampton, Bristol, where the RAC was based.
The research project worked on the very practical premise of people getting to know and understand each other through working together, e.g. projects with local schools, the Job Centre, the police, shops, the library, etc. Two of the overall findings were the need for the members of the RAC to be able to tell other people about their lives as a means of building understanding between communities and to take a meaningful, self-defining, active role within those communities. Through their commitment, skills and desire it became apparent that the members of the centre could best communicate and express themselves through the arts; members and workers alike realised that the arts provided a genuine platform and vehicle for this expression and communication. The Portway Players was formed on this basis, in response to a genuine love and commitment to theatre by its members, a desire to use theatre as a way of expressing their lives and a belief that theatre is about sharing and communicating with others.
Following performances for families, friends and the local community, the Portway Players decided they wanted to perform in the professional theatre. Their first performance in a professional theatre was at Bristol Old Vic in 1990 with Yellow Sun, Red Moon. Since 1990, the Players have devised their own work and interpreted and performed interpretations and adaptations of texts; most shows have been premiered at Bristol Old Vic.
The company was supported by Bristol City Council Social Services until 2000 and from 2000–2005, by art + power (community arts projects) Ltd. The Portway Players became Firebird Theatre in 2005.