Behind the Scenes at Storiescapes with Full Circle

​We're in the thick of rehearsals in the Dance Studio which is our HQ at ARC. It’s hard work but the actors are amazing and music, laughter and brilliant ideas buzzing are the sound track to our days.
 
The setting for Storiescapes is an Escape Room where the least important stories have been locked away. Our actors have to battle to solve a range of puzzles and tasks to ensure their stories are told. One of the characters, Goose Bumps, played by actor Megan Rees, thinks it’s not fair that they have been locked in the Escape Room, so she and Dolls House, played by Lesleyanne Carling, are determined to find a way out, to be respected, looking for clues to help them on their mission. Goose Bumps uncovers a locked briefcase which clearly says ‘Do Not Open’ on it but the group encourage her to open it. A clock starts ticking and the pressure is on. What will she discover once she cracks the code? Opera Singer, played by Alison Groat, is given a key but which box does it unlock? It’s a race against time to bring her story to life? Horse Whisper, created by Michelle Dick, has to pass a task to release the enchanted horses so her story can be shared.

Stephen Roe is one of our newest actors and said, “It’s good to see it all coming together. You don’t realise how much work is involved. It’s brilliant how everyone works together.” Actor Gavin Walton agreed and said, “It’s all about teamwork and concentration”.

​The concentration and skill of the group is evident, and the longer-standing members are supporting our newer members, three of whom will be making their debut Full Circle appearance in a full show. Alyson Groat, one of the founding members of the company said, “I’m so proud of how all the group works hard, all of us actors together”.
There is so much hard work...creating, devising, and rehearsing, and we all go home tired. Patrick Gill said, “I’ve worked my socks off today.” – they all want to get their moves right, hit their cues, and tell a much-needed story as creatively as possible.  

When we did our second Our Stomping Grounds Festival in June this year, legendary BBC Tees broadcaster Gary Philipson said of our work, “You know I love you guys. Seeing one of your shows, changed how I look at disabled people completely. It made you realise what peoples’ lives are like, but also how powerfully Full Circle tell their stories.”  The actors are happy about the story we aim to tell and want to make Teesside proud.
 
Other actors in the company are Marc Lambert, Adele Hudson, and Peter Gibson.

Within the Storiescapes Escape Room, we had to create lots of puzzles and tasks to show how difficult it can be to share your story, your culture and your experience with an inaccessible world. In these photographs, the group are seen creating puzzles and testing them out in simple prototype form.  We're looking forward to sharing how they turned out with audiences. 

Storiescapes has a matinee and evening show on 21 November at ARC Stockton. 1.30 pm and 7.00 pm. Tickets are available here, along with access and sensory information about the show ​Storiescapes - ARC | Stockton Arts Centre