The first Care House Project took place in Harlow in Summer 2022.
As part of the project we spent 6 weeks with an amazing bunch of people from Harlow who came together to talk about care; living with it and living without it. Together we made a new dance theatre show, 9 Acts of Care.
The project concluded with A Festival of Care in Harlow Town Park, bringing together local organisations and community groups in Harlow. The free festival ran for a week and included shows, family friendly activities, music, creative workshops, signposting activity and daily performances of 9 Acts of Care.
In total the project engaged with 3013 audiences, 1913 participants and 15 local organisations, artists and community groups, with 718 people engaging with signposting activities from local mental health & wellbeing providers.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside a group of inspirational and brilliant Harlow residents at Harlow Playhouse, exploring themes around care and community. We were also shining a light on all the fantastic organisations here that contribute to a vision of care for their local people. The Care House Project this summer was joyous, and we look forward to making this an annual event for Harlow. Together we can creatively dismantle barriers that exclude and encourage belonging and care for all ”
“A massive show of care for the people of Harlow”
“This has made me proud to be from Harlow. Thank you!”
TEAM
Artistic & Executive Director, Harlow Playhouse Rory Davies · Executive Director, Rhiannon Faith Company Maddy Morgan · Festival Coordinator Penelope Diaz · Print Design Anne Van Den Boogaard · Security General Security Services Ltd · Video Big Egg Films · Photography Foteini Christofilopoulou
9 ACTS OF CARE
Devised and Performed by Klara Bow, Lewis Bramble, Annie Carpenter, Dom Coffey, Sheri Dias, Sam French, Donna Glynn, Dave Hobbs, Donald Hutera, Marla King, Marlie Fuentes Palacios, Cat New, Finetta Oliver-Mikolajska · Devised with Anne Williams · Choreographer/Director Rhiannon Faith · Rehearsal Director Nikki Watson · Producer Lydia Wharf · Set Design Marina Diamantidi with initial design input from Blue Bradfield · Set Build Scene2 · Set Decoration Amy Freeman · Music Direction Rhiannon Faith · Sound Recordings Shea Lolin · Costume Design Rhiannon Faith · Production Manager Daniel Ellis · Production Team Joshua Cole-Brown, Adam Horvath, Lewis Mote · Counsellor Joy Griffiths
A FESTIVAL OF CARE CONTRIBUTORS
Anwaar Belly Dance, Butterfly Effect Wellbeing, Community Embrace, Changing Lives, Efua Sey Cultural Academy, Employ-Ability, Essex Have Mercy, Harlow College Fashion department, Harlow Ukulele Band, Hip Hop Pop, Lu Williams, Matipo Arts , MIND in West Essex, Pets’ Corner, Plant Pots and Wellies, Rainbow Services Community Hub, Safer Places, The Luna Emporium Health and Wellness Centre, Voices of Harlow Choir & Voluntary Action Epping Forest.
CREDITS
The Care House Project 2022 was co-produced by Rhiannon Faith Company and Harlow Playhouse, with support from Harlow Poverty Alliance. The project was funded using public funding by Arts Council England, National Lottery Community Fund, and The Essex County Council Arts and Cultural fund. With development support from Stafford Gatehouse Theatre.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This was the first ever iteration of the Care House Project which, since 2022, continues to work with the Harlow community to improve mental health and wellbeing, celebrate care and community, and provide hope for a better future.