Produced by Open Theatre Company Coventry and Birmingham. Photo credits Graeme Braidwood.
Weds 23rd of April 2025 – Friday 25th of April 2025.
On Wednesday, 23 rd of April 2025 – Friday, 25 th of April 2025, Open Theatre presented Falling at the Birmingham
Repertory Theatre as part of the Love and Rebellion Festival. Directed by Richard Hayhow, this devised piece
exemplified Open Theatre’s commitment to nonverbal physical theatre and showcased the talents of performers with learning disabilities. Open Theatre’s approach focuses on harnessing the creativity of performers with learning disabilities through nonverbal physical theatre, aiming to develop, promote, and sustain their artistry, championing occupational justice and enhancing the well-being and quality of life of young artists with learning disabilities.
Their work, including Falling, reflects a dedication to inclusive storytelling and the exploration of profound human experiences.
The performance delved into themes of vulnerability and the human need for connection,
encapsulated by the poignant line:
“Come near, though – come and put your arms around me; I need someone, and I’m falling through the cloudy death of a dream. And if I hit the ground, I’ll be dead; dead and alone in my dream.”
As an accessibility expert and artist with lived experience of learning disabilities, I thought I would watch the performance to support the work of a dear friend on Friday, April 25, 2025. Little did I know that
I was about to witness the most life-affirming piece of theatre that I have ever seen, and I cried in the darkness for 45 minutes. The tears were of as many forms as the work itself. Firstly, I reflected upon my life as someone with learning disabilities and just how much society has tried to stop me from experiencing things that, as a human being, I have the right to experience, such as love and connection.
Secondly, I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD (aged 35) as well as my Autism and Dyspraxia (aged 8), and the narrative of the piece represented the exact journey to self-actualization that I have been on as an adult and actor with learning disabilities. Beginning with the fear and confusion of not understanding my own mind, the ensemble work and imagery were beautiful, and the actors embodied the emotions perfectly, bringing talent and gusto to their performances.
Moving on to trying to reach out and acknowledging that I
needed a connection with others, but not understanding how to ask for it appropriately.
Lead actress Millie Parker gave a stunning and brave performance, completely non-verbally, to tell this story and there was a section in the middle of the narrative where she sniffed a rose and became animatedly elated at the joy of the experience, which whilst it was funny and provided relief to the audience, it did represent feelings in my younger years of trying to connect with partners and failing rather miserably for reasons I did not then understand.
Finally, the piece ended with a message of hope and
reaching self-actualization. The actors learnt not to be afraid anymore and embraced their unique identities through the power of theatre, connection, and performance. I too, feel that I have reached this point in my life now, but sadly, so many others still have not. There is still a lack of support out there for neurodivergent individuals, a lack of financial justice, a lack of opportunities, and a lack of experiencing belonging and connection. Hopefully, through the work of Open Theatre and the touring of Falling we can reach more
young people, more neurodivergent adults, and support them to experience the self-actualization that myself and many of the artists at Open Theatre have been supported to achieve.
Reactions to the piece were mixed, from stunned silence, to the appreciation of the beautiful imagery and artistry, to sitting in shock and awe at watching our lives being
reflected back to us, with one neurodivergent artist describing the experience of acting in the show as “intense.”
This work helps to connect human beings on many levels. Firstly, to demonstrate the experience of those who may
not have the words to tell people themselves, and secondly, to highlight and educate others on the impact that our conditions have on us in an incredibly powerful way. I hope to see Falling again on tour with the Open Theatre Company in the future.
Falling had an approximate runtime of 45 minutes and was presented alongside Ripples of Rebellion Laced with
Love, a one-hour piece by Adult Drama, another group featured in the festival.
Review written by Madeleine Levy, Alternative Voices Theatre Company Founder, Actor, Author of ‘When I grow
up, I want to be a cat Surviving the education system with Asperger’s’, accessibility expert, and Occupational
Therapist.