The Great Get-Together / Neighbourhood Theatre End of Year 1 Party - 17th June 2017
It has been a fantastic first year for Neighbourhood Theatre, and members were invited to celebrate this at an end of year party at Platform in Southwark, between final performances of community show And Yet It Moves. The party was part of The Great Get Together, a national celebration inspired by Jo Cox MP on the weekend of 16th-18th June, aimed at bringing people together and championing community.
Summery food and drink, including strawberries and cream, and Pimms, were served, as current and future NhT members mingled. It felt like the perfect way to round off a brilliant year. Some of the cast of And Yet It Moves popped in and, in the course of conversation, reflected on the challenges and achievements of being part of this powerful show. Several people who will become members of NhT in Year 2 were also present.
Chatting to people during the course of the afternoon, it was clear what the Neighbourhood Theatre means to the people involved, and how passionately members feel about the initiative.
Amongst the celebration and fun, there were a number of serious moments as members talked about what NhT meant for them. One of the ‘members-to-be’ voiced his appreciation for, and the significance of, the opportunity to tell his story in a recent community production. Later in the afternoon, another guest - already an NhT member - told me she believed NhT had actually “saved [people’s] lives”. Surveying the year’s work, it is obvious that this claim is a realistic one. With this in mind, it is incredibly exciting to see what Neighbourhood Theatre can achieve in Year 2.
