A group of people huddled beneath a tent in their local park waiting for the rain to let up, while musicians play to make it seem less wet? Check… Seven year olds pretending to be a house from a story written by one of their classmates? Check… Young people in school foruming a scene about homophobia? Check… This is London Bubble Theatre Company.

London Bubble was created to share stories with people who might not normally experience theatre. The idea that theatre takes place in intimidating environments, costs a lot of money and is really difficult to understand often forces a chasm between potential participants and the joy to be found in enjoying a story together. The company believes strongly in the transformative powers of making and watching live performance, and that access to both should be universally available. While it produces a lot of issue-led work, its belief in inclusion is core - the reason the company was formed and the reason it continues.

London Bubble's largest and most visible project, the summer show, usually a promenade, tours to parks and urban spaces, revealing something new about a familiar place and collecting curious dog-walkers and skateboarders along the way. The annual pantomime has also garnered a great reputation for its irreverent storytelling, high quality and total lack of celebrities. Ticket prices are kept as low as possible for all the large-scale work.

The Youth Theatres, catering for 8 to 17 year olds, and Adult Drama Group for everyone older (there is no upper limit) make work in the rehearsal room, based on existing stories or their own ideas and inspiration. Parks, basketball courts, adventure playgrounds and churches have been occupied by the participatory groups - sometimes even theatres.

However, while these projects try to remove as many of the obstacles to participating as possible, people often have to make an active choice to do so. In recent years new project-based funding streams have enabled the company to reach people who might not normally choose to get involved, but once in contact develop enthusiasm for theatre and want to do more. Work in schools is a case in point - the Respect Is Primary programme financed by Southwark Children's Fund, uses drama to explore the giving and receiving of respect with primary school children, many of whom have since joined the Youth Theatre. Drama work offered to secondary schools as part of the Karrot programme, a diversionary initiative launched by the Metropolitan Police, has a similar effect. Other schools-based work includes INSET training for teachers and the provision of After School Drama Clubs.

London Bubble also tackles controversial social issues through consultation with young people. Most recently, funded by the Metropolitan Police, a show entitled Shame, Pain and Blame toured to secondary schools - the young actors presented a story about violence and homophobia among teenagers to their peers, and invited them to participate in a Forum Theatre replay of the events they had seen. Past Peer Group shows have concerned young people's relationship with the police and the thorny subject of sex education. Probing these issues using performance develops confidence and empathy for all parties - so much so that a senior police officer recently requested that the second Police Project be part of training for police cadets.

For children of nursery school age and upward, the company has adapted a technique developed by the brilliant American practitioner Vivian Gussin Paley. In her classroom each child is asked to tell a story to the teacher, who writes it down verbatim, and then reads it aloud for enactment by the author and his or her classmates. This micro version of theatre-making promotes class cohesion, individual self-esteem and literacy - with funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, London Bubble workers are currently training teachers in this valuable teaching tool.

Keeping the threads of this programme together is tricky. Three years ago the company introduced a meeting-point project. Gilgamesh was the summer show for the Millennium, a blend of participation and promenade. A core company of professional actors and musicians were joined by almost a hundred participants drawn from Bubble participatory groups and the wider community. Critically acclaimed, its success was tremendous - not only was it huge fun for all concerned, it filled the company with renewed vigour and changed its work cycle into a triennial programme.

Three years later the company are creating the summer show for 2003, an ancient Indian folk tale called Punchkin Enchanter. Once again London Bubble is inviting all and sundry to join in this gigantic storymaking project - to perform, to sing, to dance, to make props and costumes. It will visit several venues across London, bringing people together to work and watch. The hope is that audiences will be inspired by what they see to participate themselves, or encourage their families and friends to get involved.

The difference between projects like Gilgamesh and Punchkin and other community shows is that after the show is over, the company doesn't disappear. London Bubble continues to work within the wider community - in schools, youth clubs and from its base. The form of each of the many projects it facilitates is tailored to suit the group involved, be they new audiences or children making theatre for the first time. Accessible and inclusive theatre - a satisfying storytelling experience for everyone.

Contact:
Louise Owen,
London Bubble, 5 Elephant Lane, London, SE16 4JD
Tel: 020-7237-4434
e-mail: louise@londonbubble.org.uk