Adults

Solar Bear's offers a range of excellent Drama, Writing, Filmmaking and Music Workshops for adults from a range of groups and organisations. In particular, we have an excellent reputation for the work we do in and for the Deaf Community. We also provide Training Programmes of work (including Deaf Awareness) for adults working within the Arts, Education, Disability and Social Care sectors. Some examples of our work with adults include:

DeafBlind Scotland

In 2008, Solar Bear delivered two blocks of writing and drama sessions for Deafblind Scotland culminating in two short performances. Members wrote poems, monologues and short scenes about their experiences of being deafblind, which culminated in a short performance in the summer and a Christmas show. As well as having a lot of fun, developing theatre skills and exploring deafblind issues, the members have described the sessions as, "Communication therapy". Workshops are ongoing, with more deafblind people registering an interest in joining the group.

Deaf Action

We provided one-off drama workshops for a group of deaf adults, all with different hearing losses and communication abilities ranging from BSL users to lip speakers. They were introduced to drama games and theatre making, giving them the opportunity to explore how sign and body language can work together to create theatre.

In addition, Solar Bear is developing an excellent reputation for the work we are doing in the area of Mental Health. In partnership with the Citizens Theatre we offer weekly Therapeutic Theatre sessions leading to performances.

Therapeutic Theatre - Psychodrama in the Theatre

This work is for people who access mental health services across Glasgow, and uses drama and psychodrama techniques to support group members to explore their personal stories. It encompasses both a therapeutic and creative approach. Initial weeks use drama games and exercises to build trust through fun, play and laughter, which enables group members to move into a more psychodramatic way of working, in order to begin to share their stories and have these heard and validated by each other. We then gather material that the group feel they want to present to an audience, finding creative ways to do this with anonymity; such as having other people tell your story, creating characters, narratives and scenarios. Group members have control over every stage of this process and are encouraged to participate in a way that suits them best. Facilitated by Emma Hagen, drama artist and registered psychodrama psychotherapist trainee and Ian Gidley, mental health nurse and UKCP registered psychodrama psychotherapist, Solar Bear's therapeutic theatre workshops are fast becoming an important and respected resource for the people who access them.

"Thanks to you and your team for your excellent addition to our conference. I hope this will give Solar Bear some good national exposure within health services so you can continue and expand this important work".
Dr Jamie Kirk, Clinical Psychologisttr