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Local Offer

Blue Apple Theatre - Blue Apple Singers - Winchester

Offering services to:
  • Adults 19-25
  • Adults
  • Young people 16-18
Supporting people with:
  • Activities for children and young people
  • Special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND)

3-4pm - SINGING with The Blue Apple Singers at The Chapel, University of Winchester

Singing sessions for people over 18 with learning disabilities. We support participants to learn to sing, explore different musical styles and develop creativity. Fun sessions that help to improve confidence and social skills. 

Blue Apple Singers covers a broad mix of song choices and singing styles. The group perform at external events and within some stage events.

An Oscar Wilde character once (almost) said: “Anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression. Sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life.”

See video of Blue Apple Singers performing here:  https://youtu.be/broALaua71U

About Blue Apple

Blue Apple is an ambitious creative company that supports performers with learning disabilities. 

Over 17 years Blue Apple Theatre has become one of the most well-known disability arts organisations in the south of England, presenting high quality productions to the widest possible audiences – performing and touring drama, dance, film and song within a variety of indoor and outdoor venues locally, nationally and even internationally with partners in the Czech Republic, Poland and Italy. We have established an extensive portfolio of more than 30 productions and have been hugely successful in our mission to make popular classics accessible to people with learning disabilities, which in turn has mirrored that accessibility to a wider audience to open up new ways of appreciating the universal meanings within the text.

Blue Apple Theatre is now recognised as one of the foremost theatre groups in the UK for people with learning disabilities. With two highly popular shows being staged each year in Winchester and touring performances across the south of England, including at the prestigious Globe Theatre in London, Blue Apple not only provides a range of theatrical opportunities for its participants, but also challenges common perceptions and informs the wider public debate.  Now in our 17th year, our major projects are bespoke creations built around a wide range of skills and needs within our large cast. Some are able only to remember a few words whilst others can perform large speeches, some have a profound understanding of stagecraft whilst others are still learning how gestures and facial expression can support meaning in performance and in real-world settings. Though we focus finally on a live performance, all the sessions which lead towards it are in fact 'rehearsals for life'.

“Blue Apple is a team builder. It builds both you as a person and as a character as well.” - James Benfield, Blue Apple performer

Who to contact

Contact Name
Elisabeth Yeats-Brown
Contact Position
Administrator
Telephone
01962 827352 01962 827352 07510 844 480 07510 844 480
E-mail
groups@blueappletheatre.com
Website
Blue Apple Theatre website
Scan to visit this website
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/blueappletheatre/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/BlueApplePlays
Notes

Contact details: Elisabeth Yeats-Brown, Administrator

01962 827352 (Landline with answerphone)

07510 844 480 (Mobile phone that you can call, text or WhatsApp)

Email groups@blueappletheatre.com 

Where to go

Name
The Chapel, University of Winchester
Address
Sparkford Road
Winchester
Postcode

SO22 4NR

View SO22 4NR on a map
Notes

For specific locations on campus please see Campus-Map.pdf (winchester.ac.uk)

Singing is in The Chapel at the University of Winchester. See the Campus map at 06

Time / Date Details

When is it on
Monday afternoons 4.30-5.30pm
Time of day
Afternoon
Session Information
The Blue Apple Singers have sentiment as their forte and enough charm and heart to ride rough-shod over any cynic. This unique troupe of songsters shine new light on songs you thought you knew and also bring new work to fresh audiences. Whatever the weather
they bring sunshine to any festival
and it is impossible to watch them without smiling
joining in and having any wavering faith in humanity utterly restored!

Costs

7  per session
Details
£7 per session. Term in total or two payments, usually payable in advance.

Availability

Referral not required
Other notes

Blue Apple Theatre provides services to people with learning disabilities.  We evaluate whether we can support specific needs on an individual basis.

Local Offer

What does your service do?

Founded in 2005 and based in Winchester, Blue Apple is an inspirational and ambitious theatrical company that supports performers with learning disabilities to develop and present high quality productions for the widest possible audiences.

The charity’s participation programme has been steadily growing in scope towards a Hampshire-wide model and the performance programme has been actively increasing in scale and ambition.

Blue Apple is committed to the development of integrated and progressive opportunities within the arts for people with learning disabilities, to raise the ceiling of expectation and advocate for the development of a more inclusive and equal society. The increase in confidence gained through stage performances has helped Blue Apple participants to enhance their social, personal and artistic skills and achieve public recognition for their talents.

Who does your service provide for?

People with learning disabilities aged 18+

How can I start using the service?

Contact us for further information and registration form or you can access the registration form at our website here: https://blueappletheatre.com/how-to-join 

Where is it located and what areas does it cover?

We work out of offices based at Faculty of Arts, St. Edburga Building, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester SO22 4NR

Blue Apple offers online sessions, in-person sessions and can accommodate hybrid sessions using online streaming. 

The company presents performing and touring theatre, dance and film within a variety of large and small scale venues around Hampshire and the southern regions, as well as nationally and internationally.

How are decisions made about who can use your service?

Registration forms are reviewed by Blue Apple's staff team, and prospective new members are asked to attend for a trial to assess suitability on both sides. 

How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making?

Conversations in person during sessions or by phone/text or email.

Is your service fully accessible?

Blue Apple Theatre provides services to people with learning disabilities.  We evaluate whether we can support specific needs on an individual basis.

Which of the following applies to your setting?
  • Our service is delivered in the community
  • Wheelchair access
Who can I contact for further information?

Elisabeth Yeats-Brown via groups@blueappletheatre.com or 07510 844 480 (voice, text or WhatsApp messages)

Offering services to:
  • Adults 19-25
  • Adults
  • Young people 16-18
Supporting people with:
  • Activities for children and young people
  • Special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND)

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Last Updated: 20 October 2023

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