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My perfoming arts school dream
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| Penni Bubb is determined to finish her project APHWW13 |
WITH dreams of raising £1 million, building a performing arts school accessible to everyone and doing it by the time the Olympics arrive in London, Penni Bubb sometimes wishes she'd chosen an easier career path.
"Sometimes I quite like the idea of stacking shelves," admits the mum of four, who runs the Mushroom Theatre Company, in Rayleigh, before admitting deep down she relishes the challenge.
"I think that's why I am in this position," she says. "I'm not the sort of person who can do a bit of teaching here and there. I have to get involved. I have to try to move things forward. That's what I'm like.
"So if I did stack shelves, I'd probably have to do it in a special way," she jokes. "Maybe make shapes out of the tins or something."
For the time being, the only stacking she's planning on doing, is stacking up the money in the company's charity bank account to bring about her vision of inclusive performing arts for all.
The Mushroom Theatre Company, set up four years ago, is already one of the only theatre groups in the area which brings able bodied and disabled people together to socialise and perform.
Penni set it up after her job as a freelance dance and drama teacher at Eastwood School brought her into regular contact with children from surrounding special needs schools.
At the same time, she was growing increasingly frustrated with mainstream education.
"I'd got fed up with the politics of schools and being told what I could and couldn't do creatively," says Penni, who had been badgered for years by her friends and family to start her own studio.
When she found out a friend had just taken on a unit at Lubbards Farm, Rayleigh, Penni went down to meet the owner and before long they were rebuilding a mushroom shed for her new theatre company.
"I had no idea it would take off like it did," says Penni, who now has more than 100 people regularly attending the centre's dance, drama and singing classes.
"There are so many dancing and acting schools in the area, I really wasn't sure whether I was going to be able to make it work. But I think what we did do was fill a gap.
"We filled the gap between going at it, doing all the exams and high pressured stuff, and just messing about. We were getting people who had done a bit of dancing but were fed up with the exam treadmill and just wanted to express themselves."
Perhaps it was her open to everyone policy which has helped her group become so popular.
"It's a decision that has helped create a tight knit community," she says.
"It's often described as a family. If you can be there to help someone who has fallen out with their mum for whatever reason, or help someone with a really serious problem, that's what it's about. It's not about putting people into the profession. I think performing arts has a lot more to offer than that.
She also says the decision to make it totally inclusive has had a positive effect on everyone involved.
"From the able bodied side, it's broken down barriers and made them realise just because someone isn't the same as you, there's nothing to fear," she explains.
"From a disabled kid's point of view, parents often tell me its given them a social life. Finally, from my point of view, it's a really interesting way to be able to direct and choreograph people."
Despite her dreams of inclusion, Penni soon learned it wasn't going to be as straightforward as she hoped.
Going out and performing proved difficult because the venues weren't often equipped to deal with wheelchairs going on to the stage. There were also problems closer to home.
A misunderstanding over planning permission meant the carers of one student, paralysed from the neck down, were unable to accompany him into the mushroom shed where they rehearsed.
For a period of time, it meant his nan had to go with him into the classes while his carers sat outside in a car. Anytime they were needed, Penni would have to run to the door and call for their assistance.
Penni eventually secured retrospective planning permission at a cost of £1,000, but the experience had a profound effect on her.
"I just thought, right, let's build our own building then'," says Penni.
With that, the Equal Theatre Company was born.
A committee of volunteers was formed and spent the next year working towards gaining charitable status. They achieved that this time last year, and Penni then enlisted friend and former pupil Lee Mead as patron.
So far, the company has been able to gain funding for a scheme working with vulnerable teenagers, something Penni hopes to be able to repeat. But it's the building of the new centre that is her biggest challenge.
Over the past year they've managed to raise £17,000 towards their £1million goal through a host of fundraising events and donations.
Lee's fans are also busy fundraising for them.
With the charity up and running, a completion date of 2012 has been set for the project - but even the mention of this reduces Penni to fits of nervous laughter. "I don't know if that will happen," she says. "If we can get the land and planning permission, it's possible.
"We have been offered a site off the A127, near Rayleigh, but it's on green belt, so that's going to be an issue."
Once the land is secured, however, Penni and her team of trustees have got big plans for the building.
"It's going to be an eco-building and the whole thing is going to be built with wheelchairs in mind," says Penni.
"There will be textured flooring and braille signs, optical lighting, a sensory garden and we'll have a coffee shop which will be open to anyone who wants to come along."
As well as being Mushroom's rehearsal space, Penni also hopes it will become a place for schools to put on plays and a rehearsal space for local theatre groups.
While Penni might currently be short of funds, one thing she's not lacking is support.
Her dream has attracted a host of supporters, including parents of her students who are acting as trustees, and performing arts graduates wanting to help out.
She says: "I'm just a dance and drama teacher so there are times when I think what have I done?'
"But I've got through it with a lot of help and advice from other people. They've been invaluable."
So has the support of her family.
It's kind of like a vocation," says Penni. "This is everything to me. It's what I think about every moment of the day, so thank goodness my kids enjoy it."
For more information on the Equal Theatre Company, or to make a donation, contact Penni on 07985 422485.
7:55am Wednesday 16th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Trish1363, Leicester on 9:57pm Wed 16 Jan 08
Penni, Wishing you evey success on hitting your target. Such a worthy cause, from a Lee fan
Penni, Wishing you evey success on hitting your target. Such a worthy cause, from a Lee fan
Posted by: Karen C, Kent on 7:20pm Tue 29 Jan 08
Wishing Penni and all at the Mushroom Theatre Group, every success in reaching yout target.
Go go go Penni!!
From another Lee fan X
Wishing Penni and all at the Mushroom Theatre Group, every success in reaching yout target.
Go go go Penni!!
From another Lee fan X
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