Orpheus Trust
Encyclopedia
The Orpheus Trust Centre is an inclusive performing arts centre
founded in 1998 by British entertainer and musician Richard Stilgoe
in his former family home in Godstone, Surrey
, in the United Kingdom
.
and the performing arts
as a vehicle for self-development by offering young people creative experiences through which they will discover and develop new skills, new aspects to themselves and therefore new expectations. They work in a user-led way, providing their care services in a sensitive, flexible manner to meet individual needs, and delivering their educational programme in a way that meets individual goals. Orpheus employs the social model of disability
to inform practice and the youth-work approach to personal development; encouraging individuals to define their identity and role within their communities.
The Centre’s work is focused on apprenticeship
s, which are 3 year full time placements for up to 25 young disabled people aged 18 – 25 who work towards living independently in the community through an individually designed and complex programme of daily-living skills, performing arts and involvement in all aspects of running the Orpheus Centre. The Orpheus Trust also runs week-long performing arts courses for up to 30 young disabled and non-disabled people, led by professional artists and culminating in a public performance either in the Orpheus’s own Barn Theatre or on tour around the UK.
and the Royal Albert Hall
in London
, Schools’ Proms, Glastonbury Festival
, the International Festival of Music Theatre in Cardiff
and a pan-European arts festival in Greece
. These public performances are always well supported and educate the enthusiastic audience as much as entertain them. The Apprentices also visit many schools, colleges and community groups to run participatory workshops, performances and discussions. There is an important educational aspect to this experience for the ’host’ group; for many, it will be the first time they have interacted with disabled people. The Apprentices also provide tailored workshops and disability equality and awareness training to business and community groups.
Performing arts center
Performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is used to refer to* A multi-use performance space that is intended for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre....
founded in 1998 by British entertainer and musician Richard Stilgoe
Richard Stilgoe
Richard Henry Simpson Stilgoe OBE is a British songwriter, lyricist and musician. He is noted for clever wordplay as much as for his music....
in his former family home in Godstone, Surrey
Godstone
Godstone is a village in the county of Surrey, England. It is located approximately six miles east of Reigate at the junction of the A22 and A25 major roads, and near the M25 motorway.-History:...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Aims
Orpheus aims to use musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and the performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
as a vehicle for self-development by offering young people creative experiences through which they will discover and develop new skills, new aspects to themselves and therefore new expectations. They work in a user-led way, providing their care services in a sensitive, flexible manner to meet individual needs, and delivering their educational programme in a way that meets individual goals. Orpheus employs the social model of disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
to inform practice and the youth-work approach to personal development; encouraging individuals to define their identity and role within their communities.
The Centre’s work is focused on apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
s, which are 3 year full time placements for up to 25 young disabled people aged 18 – 25 who work towards living independently in the community through an individually designed and complex programme of daily-living skills, performing arts and involvement in all aspects of running the Orpheus Centre. The Orpheus Trust also runs week-long performing arts courses for up to 30 young disabled and non-disabled people, led by professional artists and culminating in a public performance either in the Orpheus’s own Barn Theatre or on tour around the UK.
Performance programme and events
Orpheus also has a touring performance programme which has included performances at the Royal Opera HouseRoyal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
and the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Schools’ Proms, Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, the International Festival of Music Theatre in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and a pan-European arts festival in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. These public performances are always well supported and educate the enthusiastic audience as much as entertain them. The Apprentices also visit many schools, colleges and community groups to run participatory workshops, performances and discussions. There is an important educational aspect to this experience for the ’host’ group; for many, it will be the first time they have interacted with disabled people. The Apprentices also provide tailored workshops and disability equality and awareness training to business and community groups.