My husband and I travelled over to Sutton Hoo a few Wednesdays ago to watch the Red Rose Company perform Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the “Theatre in the Forest”. I was rather like a Circuit outing with a member from Felixstowe, Framlingham, and myself in the audience. (You know who you are!)
It was a fantastic performance, and I hope any of you who enjoy the theatre got an opportunity to watch this theatre group.
The Red Rose Chain Theatre Company are a local group of actors whose passion is to produce entertaining theatre and to support local communities. Their mission is “ to build a vibrant ,diverse community where marginalised and disabled participants collaborate in creative equality with professional artists to create ground-breaking theatre.”
I am aware of at least one resident from a local home for people with learning difficulties who has attended the Red Rose Chain workshops. David (not his real name) has grown from being a nearly mute, introverted, anxious man to a calmer, smiling and laughing individual, who appears at ease now within a group.
Nearly half of the cast of this production were performing in their acting debut, however everyone’s performance was lively, word perfect (I’m no Shakespeare expert), and engaged everyone in the audience, young and old.
It was wonderful to see how different people participated and brought Shakespeare’s work to life. My memories of studying Shakespeare at school was that it was old fashioned language, inaccessible, and dull. I never know Macbeth could be so funny!
How do we engage with those in our community who perhaps struggle to communicate, who have different learning levels to ours? How accessible is our language in church?
How do we recognise and utilise the hidden gifts and talents within those of our congregation and community?
How do we make faith fun?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you enjoyed meeting with your friends, but you also went out of your way to help the marginalised and outcast. You recognised the good in people who saw themselves as failures. Help us to recognise the hidden talents in others and in ourselves. Help us to have fun in your service. AMEN