Friendly Bombs celebrates 25 years of making theatre 'more accessible in every way'

Underneath the glow of the stained-glass windows of Burnham’s St Peter’s Church a theatre group for actors with learning disabilities will perform its 25th annual production.

Tackling Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, The Friendly Bombs Theatre Company will invite audiences on an emotive journey of jealousy and revenge using its award-winning blend of physical and spoken drama.

With no curtain to open and draw, the production on Tuesday, June 27 will be all-encompassing, from the nave to the pulpit, heightening tension and expectation and keeping audiences on the edges of their seats.

Up to 20 actors with various learning difficulties will use dramatic storytelling techniques to depict a tale of marriage and betrayal, death and politics and a badly behaved monarch.

It’s that engaging a play that this is the second time the company has produced it in its 25 years.

Making classical literature more accessible is the original and existing aim of Friendly Bombs’ founders Richard Hodges and Ted Dutton.

Since 1998 no script has been shied away from and over the years the confident group of actors have embraced the darkness of Hamlet, the storms of The Tempest and the turmoil of Lord of the Flies.

“The members have always said ‘yes’ to trying out anything and it has been wonderful to see dark and challenging theatre tackled and developed, nothing is impossible to this group,” said Richard.

Derived from the John Betjeman poem ‘Slough’, where he writes ‘Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough’, the members of the company are ‘friends, and friendly’ and its productions are powerful ‘bombs’, exploding myths and preconceptions of what people with learning disabilities are capable of.

For a quarter of a century the company has rehearsed weekly for annual or twice yearly productions, tours and workshops.

On Tuesday nights, actors and volunteers alike greet each other exuberantly. The atmosphere in the church hall an uplifting, happy one, and it is obvious that friendships gained are a happy by-product of sharing a love of drama. The importance of this connection is validated in the fact that an extra half an hour is built-into rehearsals so that socialising can be done before the serious work starts.

Productions are made possible thanks to a cohort of theatre-loving volunteers, including qualified directors, who encourage the actors to express themselves fully and with freedom, delivering their own versions of lines, actions and characters.

Emily Hyland, a former actor who used to sit in the audience as a Friendly Bombs fan, is now a volunteer and a big believer in this style of drama.

“It’s about making theatre more accessible in every way. Something that the actors can understand but also something that the audiences can understand as well.

“So, with The Winter’s Tale, the actors physically show us the difference between cities ‘Sicilia’ and ‘Bohemia’.

“We create a very dark beginning where everyone is walking on stage in heavy clothes. Then we create a totally different atmosphere with music, moments of laughter, a costume change; the way they are standing and talking to each other.

“When we are rehearsing we get them to understand the difference between the two cities and we get them involved and ask them: ‘how do you feel?’.

“We do this every step of the way, so they help kind of guide the script.”

What helps the flow of drama on stage is partly down to the culture the company has created. Strong bonds have been formed and patience and kindness exist in abundance.

“If you sit and watch them you can just tell how much they care about each other,” added Emily.

That care and dedication extended across the pandemic where the group met on Zoom, even producing a short film of its version of Midsummer Night's Dream online.

Both co-founders, Richard and Ted, feel it quite an achievement to keep the company going during such a difficult time.

Richard reminisced: “I remember sitting alone in my small flat during the lockdown and switching on my Zoom to see dozens of happy faces pretending to be Shakespearean characters. We were all scared and worried about the world outside, but for one evening each week we all pretended to be somewhere else together.”

This 25th anniversary production will mean so much to many, including Neil Blackman, the actor who has been with the company since its formation.

Neil, a versatile actor who doesn’t mind tragedy or comedy, said that being part of the Friendly Bombs has helped him in so many ways.

He said: “I came in 1998 and I’ve been a member ever since. I joined because I am interested in acting. I enjoy comedy and serious drama but definitely prefer comedy.

“My favourite productions have been Oliver and Hamlet.

“I’ve made friends and I enjoy it.”

Now that we are finally getting to an age where actors with learning difficulties are being valued and recognised in mainstream productions, founders Richard and Ted are delighted.

“It is great to see learning disabled people appear on screen and stage more and more, and it gives our members the faces like theirs to recognise in mainstream media so that they are not sidelined,” said Richard.

Ted said Neil could have a professional career. “[He is] a master of mime and physical comedy, with perfect timing. The rest of the group (and all the helpers and volunteers) love watching him – he is so creative.”

What lays ahead for the future of Friendly Bombs is more of the same dedication to drama and performances.

“The company continues with the wonderful support of an amazing team of volunteers. The work of the company wouldn’t be unsustainable without the support of the helpers, the members’ families, and with the gifts in kind from St Peter’s Church, Optalis Care and Big Yellow Self Storage,” said Ted.

And of the forthcoming performance on Tuesday, June 27, 7.30pm, at St Peter’s Church, Burnham, Ted advised: “What to expect from our Winter's Tale? Just come and see it – you will have an amazing unique experience, nothing else like it.”

Friendly Bombs meets weekly at St Peter’s Church, Burnham, and membership is on a referral basis.