2024 Programme
We are delighted to bring you Our Stomping Grounds 2024
A Celebration of Learning Disability Culture in the Tees Valley
Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural Our Stomping Grounds Festival we are back for more! The Festival consists of a series of fantastic events and workshops, sharing and showcasing incredible local talent.
We begin the festival with a fantastic music and dance extravaganza which people can book to take part in and others can book to watch a rehearsed performance where we launch our brand new Festival Anthem. We have our Identity & Me Exhibition of original self portrait collages by local learning disabled people which will be launched by the wonderful Systemic Choir. Back again is our Short Short Film Festival which is lovely opportunity for local learning disabled artists to see their work on the big screen as we take over ARC’s cinema. It wouldn’t be an Our Stomping Grounds Festival without an ARCTic Piranha Daytime Rave, followed by a talent studded Stomp! Cabaret to lead us into our joyful Closing Ceremony Celebration.
There is also a series of workshops in the lead up to the festival which are outlined in our booking formation and include, visual arts self portraits, a Magnificence Catwalk workshop, and a couple of music workshops to create a musical anthem for the Festival 2024. The main emphasis this year has been to explore ‘identity’ and what that means to us all within our stomping grounds.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Pre-Festival Workshops - Various Dates
Creating a Festival Anthem - workshops with singer/songwriter Bridie Jackson
Wednesday 29th May 10.00am - 12.30pm
Wednesday 5th June 10.00am - 12.30pm Join this musical workshop with incredible singer-songwriter Bridie Jackson to create a fun and dynamic performance of an uplifting and joyful new song called Our Stomping Grounds, co-written by Bridie and Full Circle Theatre Company especially for the festival. ***UPDATE - These workshops are now full but you can still join in with the Festival Anthem Extravaganza on Wednesday 12 June - see below. |
Identity & Me Self Portrait Workshops for the Exhibition
Get together with artists from the Full Circle team to create large scale self portraits - with materials, support and careful instructions provided but please do bring a support worker if you require one to one support. We will have a workshop leader and three support staff also on hand.
Please note that this workshop involves having your photograph taken and printed on the day. It also involves paint, paper and glue. We can provide an apron but don't wear your best clothes! Numbers are limited so booking is essential. Tuesday 28 May - 6.30-8.00pm - Sold Out Other dates to be announced this week with places still available. |
Festival Day One - Wednesday 12 June 2024
There are Two Big Aims for Day One of the festival:
First we will welcome everyone through a bonanza of singing, dance and drumming workshops in the morning, to create a Music Extravaganza performance, launching the new Festival Anthem in the afternoon as an explosive opening to the Festival 2024.
After this our amazing Identity & Me Portrait Exhibition will open with a special appearance from Stockton’s very own inclusive singers, Systemic Choir.
10.00 -10.30 am Workshop Bonanza - Morning workshops and taking part in afternoon performance
Welcome all workshop participants (Main Theatre, Ground Floor)
Come together in the main theatre to kick start Day One of Our Stomping Grounds Festival. A great place to congregate, spot your friends and make new ones, and socialise ahead of a day of workshops! Anyone attending the workshops today can attend this gathering which is included when you book your space on the Music Extravaganza - drumming or dance workshops. No extra booking needed. As part of the festival, Full Circle and guests have been working with incredible singer-songwriter Bridie Jackson to compose a brand new piece of music all around this year's theme. This will become our Festival Anthem and it will have a special premiere performance at the Festival. For it's starring moment we are inviting learning disabled people to take part in drumming and dance workshops on the first day of the festival to be part of it's incredible launch. Take your pick between drumming or dance, and learn some vital sounds and grooves to accompany the performance of the song in the afternoon. song. |
10.30 - 11.50 am & 1.10 - 2.15 pm Drumming Workshop with Gary Bowden for the Music Extravaganza Launch
Drumming Workshop & Performance with Gary Bowden (ARC Workshop, Basement)
Plan, play and learn some rhythms using hand drums and percussion to perform later that day to accompany our new Festival Anthem alongside our dance workshop dancers and Urban Kaos who will also be working hard to create something new for today. Please note you will have a comfort break mid-workshop, and a break for the Big Packed Lunch between 12.00 and 1.00pm. You will then come to the MAIN THEATRE between 1.00 and 2.00 pm to prepare to perform the Festival Anthem to a gathered audience of friends and family at 2.00pm. (Audience booking for this below) Places are limited so booking is essential. Gary was such a hit last time that the pre-festival workshop booked up in no time. He's amazing! You can book on ARC's website when booking opens or email us at your earliest convenience on [email protected] to reserve tickets to avoid disappointment. |
10.30 - 11.50 am & 1.10 - 2.15 pm Dance Workshop with Urban Kaos for the Music Extravaganza Launch
Dance Workshop & Performance with Urban Kaos (ARC Dance Studio, Basement)
Take part in our amazing Urban Kaos workshop in the morning to create fun choreography, in a dance that will bring the Festival Anthem to life in the afternoon launch of the song, alongside our Drumming Workshop drummers, and Gary Bowden who will be working to create something special for the performance. Please note you will have a comfort break mid-workshop, and a break for the Big Packed Lunch between 12.00 and 1.00pm. You will then come to the MAIN THEATRE between 1.00 and 2.00 pm to prepare to perform the Festival Anthem to a gathered audience of friends and family at 2.00pm. (Audience booking for this below) Places are limited so booking is essential. Urban Kaos are always a sell out success so please book as soon as you can. You can book on ARC's website when booking opens or email us at your earliest convenience on [email protected] to reserve tickets to avoid disappointment. |
12.00 - 1.00 pm The Big Packed Lunch
The Big Packed Lunch (Social Area on Level One)
Everyone is invited to bring their own packed lunches and eat together at ARC while we all have a bit of a break and a bit of a socialise. We’ll continue to be as safe as possible with plenty of space. We’ll also have a quiet area if anyone needs a quiet break. This was a big success last year allowing some social time and a break in between festival activities. We’ll also have a quiet area if anyone needs a quiet break. No need to book, just bring your lunch. |
1.10 - 1.50pm Singers, Drummers and Dancers Rehearsal Together (Main Theatre)
2.00 pm Public Launch of the Festival Anthem Extravaganza
Festival Anthem Extravaganza (Main Theatre)
Please join us for this highly celebratory moment in our Festival. We will have spent the morning coming together in drumming and dance workshops, and holding a special rehearsal with singers, drummers and dancers together for the first time. Everyone will have been working very hard to bring you the musical extravaganza launch of this new anthem and it is bound to be an uplifting and joyful performance. Booking is essential and will be possible on ARC's website soon, or you can email us on [email protected] in the meantime to reserve a place to avoid disappointment. |
2.30 - 3.15 pm Identity & Me Self-Portraiture Exhibition Launch
Identity & Me Self-Portraiture Exhibition (Gallery on Level Two)
Launch 2.30pm 2.45pm Guest Performers - Systemic Choir The Identity & Me exhibition features self portraits from learning disabled individuals and groups revealing unexpected sides of themselves and challenging preconceptions the public often has about learning disabled people. This years’ theme is identity. Through mixed media collage, people have responded to the theme and created their own work. Systemic Choir will be launching this wonderful collection of images with a very special performance. Light refreshments will be served so please let us know of any dietary allergies or requirements. The opens to the public on 12th June. It’s free to attend but booking is essential. You will be able to book on ARC's website very soon but if you'd like to reserve a place do email us on [email protected] to reserve spaces to avoid disappointment. |
3.30 - 4.00 pm - Closing Moments with Roving Microphones
Roving Mics for you to have your day (Main Theatre, Ground Floor)
Before we all go home there is a chance to come together in the theatre to reflect on the events of the day and say goodbye until tomorrow. There will be roving microphones for members of the audiences and workshop participants to hand out compliments to each other, congratulate each other, and tell us if they've had a good day. This is for people who have attended the first day of the festival and there is no need to book. Just come to the theatre, find a seat, just listen or take part. |
Festival Day Two - Thursday 13 June 2024
10.30am - 12.00 pm Welcome and The Short Short Film Festival
The Short Short Film Festival (Cinema)
There will be a warm welcome to the second day of the festival in ARC's cinema. Our Short Short Film Festival is proud to present a series of short films from local learning disabled artists and groups including: Arctic Piranha tell us about their amazing inclusive club nights as a safe haven for learning disabled party-goers, David Courtney presents a short film about becoming Elvis. Full Circle give us a behind the scenes look at the artistic which supports them to come up with original ideas, and also show a fun strange day at ARC film. Local band Jam Buddies share a short film about breaking in to becoming a fully fledged band and arranging their first gigs. The award winning, multi-million viewed Shoot Your Mouth Off film company treat us to one of their newer classics which is currently under wraps. Booking will be possible on ARC's website soon. |
12.00 - 1.00 pm The Big Packed Lunch
The Big Packed Lunch (Social Area on Level One)
Everyone is invited to bring their own packed lunches and eat together at ARC while we all have a bit of a break and a bit of a socialise. We’ll continue to be as safe as possible with plenty of space. We’ll also have a quiet area if anyone needs a quiet break. This was a big success last year allowing some social time and a break in between festival activities. We’ll also have a quiet area if anyone needs a quiet break. No need to book, just bring your lunch. |
1.00 - 2.00 pm Arctic Piranha's Daytime Rave
Arctic Piranha’s Daytime Rave (Main Theatre)
After last year's sell out success we are delighted to be able to dance in the daytime again this year. Along with with guest DJ Teissy, the ARCTIC PIRANHA planning crew are on board, planning the event and arranging the playlist – they might even take requests. Let’s get on the dancefloor and raise the roof! Booking will be available soon on ARC's website. |
2.30pm - 3.45pm Stomp! Cabaret
Stomp! Cabaret (Main Theatre)
At this years’ festival we have a very exciting cabaret performance. Join us for a fun filled hour (and a bit) of magic, magnificence and music! The artists confirmed for your delight are Hidden in Plain Sight Magic (Full Circle), Singers and Musicians from SYMO, A Hunka Hunka Elvis courtesy of David Courteney, A Magnificence Catwalk featuring people strutting their stuff as only they know how, STORIESCAPE from Full Circle’s upcoming new show, all rounded off with the roof raising Brass Eyed Dragons. Booking will be available on ARC's website soon. |
3.45pm - 4.00pm Closing Ceremony
Closing Ceremony (Main Theatre)
We're going out with a celebratory bang to be created by everyone attending the Festival to bring it to a close. Don't worry, there won't be any actual fireworks or loud bangs, just a triumphant celebration of our time together. No need to book for this - it's for anyone who has been at the festival and is just a short closing event. |