Broadland is proud to be partnering with Norwich Theatre Royal on Creative Matters, a season of performance, exhibitions and workshops exploring true-life stories of homelessness.
From 1-28 February 2019, Creative Matters will examine why people lose the roof over their head, the social issues that contribute to homelessness and the stigma that surrounds it.
One of the season highlights is Street Life, a brand new verbatim play by Norfolk-based James McDermott. Inspired by real-life stories of homelessness from local people, it will be performed by Cardboard Citizens on February 27-28.
As a Homes for Cathy member, Broadland has pledged to help end homelessness and raise awareness of the issue in the Norfolk area. Michael Newey, Chief Executive, said:
We’re delighted to be able to sponsor this innovative programme with Norwich Theatre Royal. We are particularly pleased to welcome Cardboard Citizens back to Norwich, and look forward to their engaging and inspirational performance. We hope that the Creative Matters programme will help tackle the sadly increasing incidence of homelessness in our region by engaging audiences in a new way.
The Creative Matters season also includes:
- What goes on in front of closed doors, a solo show by Emma Bentley that enjoyed a critically-acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
- Prize-winning novelist Kerry Hudson In Conversation about her book Lowborn, due for publication in May 2019, in which she revisits her childhood in some of Britain’s most deprived towns.
- A film screening of A street cat named Bob, about an unlikely friendship between a homeless busker and a stray ginger cat Tom, which ends up changing his life.
- Art as intervention – an exhibition of portraits of homeless people in Norwich by local artist Devin Smith.
As well as Broadland, Theatre Royal Norwich is working with a range of community partners and organisations, including YMCA Norwich and St Martin’s Housing.
Sam Patel, Norwich Theatre Royal community participation manager, said:
February’s season will reveal stories as to how people come to be homeless. With homelessness drastically increasing over the last few years, we hope to highlight the vulnerability we all potentially face with a sudden change in circumstance that can change the course of someone’s life.
For further information about Creative Matters and to book, go to ntr.org.uk/CreativeMatters