A Company of Friends at GiGi’s Playhouse

A Company of Friends is a theatre group for Adults with Special Needs in Liverpool, England.  It began as a group of friends that wanted to spend more time together and had similar goals and similar senses of humor.  Now, the Company of Friends has over 15 members that travel to other community groups around the United Kingdom bringing their theatrical skills with them.  They are part vaudevillian act, part theatre of the Oppressed and 100%  entertaining.  They performed their short performance piece based on a work from Samuel Beckett to an audience at GiGi’s on Sunday, April 27th.  Within the performance, audience members were invited to influence the actions of the characters and change the course of events in the story of a Bossy Care Worker in a Group Home.  Audience members demanded that the Group Home Members be able to watch the Soccer Game on TV, be able to decide when they would like to prepare for work and to share a drink with the Bossy Worker.  With the audience’s help, the story had a happy ending.

On Saturday, the Company of Friends worked with GiGi’s Playhouse’s PLAI TEEN THEATRE ENSEMBLE.  Together, they created fun characters that would go on a journey to save the Indian Princess’s Magical Necklace.  Malik was a courageous warrior named, “Stealing Frogs” , Issac was the “Unknown Cow” and Jade was the wise old woman that helped the warriors on their journey.  New ensemble member, Justin, was a terrific addition to the acting troop, creating his own strong warrior.

Next week, the group will begin to cement the story for their Performance Piece on June 21st at the 115th Street Library.  All are welcome to attend the performance.