Our stories….

The stories of some of Haringey Sheds members, staff and supporters….

When Xi-mali joined Haringey Shed Youth Theatre two years ago he was suffering from a serious speech impediment which made him reluctant to talk. He has subsequently made enormous progress in overcoming his problem.

“I liked drama and my Mum brought me along to Haringey Shed. It was good going into a group because I didn’t know anyone and it made it easier. Then I got to know everyone and found it easy to be accepted. It’s fine whoever you work with here.
“I enjoy acting and the work we do to build up skills. I have made a lot of new friends and enjoy hanging out with them. I have learnt about cooperation and it is now easier to work with different people. Everyone at Haringey Shed is equal and there is no hierarchy. I like that. I can join in and feel relaxed.”
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Natasha is 10 and has been with Haringey Shed for two years. She wants to be an actress.

“I like drama a lot and what’s fun at Haringey Shed is that everyone gets a part. You work in a really big group and it’s like working in the movies because there’s loads of people and stuff going on but you have to keep your focus.

“I like preparing for the shows, doing all the dances and the moves and wearing the costumes as well. It’s really exciting. Sometimes they bring in famous people, like stars from Eastenders, and they have their photographs taken with us.

“Some people here are hard work. You have to be patient with some people. But I like the kids at Haringey Shed. We have a lot of fun and we also learn a lot.”

Sitara and Zakeeya (15) joined Haringey Youth Theatre after taking part in a summer project. Zakeeya has subsequently been offered a place in the National Youth Theatre.

“Before we joined Haringey Shed we used to go to a weekly drama club which was not focussed on inclusion.” says Sitara. “People who were confident got all the main parts and those like us who weren’t just got left behind. But Haringey Shed had a really nice atmosphere and people with disabilities were welcomed in as part of the group. People of all ages were interacting and everyone was involved in the environment. Everyone has to be involved to realise their full potential”.

“I just love to help people”, says Zakeeya. “It’s my passion. It’s what I want to do. At Haringey Shed we are all equals. We are not stereotyped. We don’t have to put on a front. We can be ourselves and nobody is embarrassed. I never used to be confident in drama. I used to be quite shy and have low focus and stage presence. But I got into the National Youth Theatre this year. Haringey Shed has really boosted my confidence. It’s an environment that gives you confidence.

“When I auditioned for the National Youth Theatre it was really nerve wracking. So I imagined that I was reading to people at Haringey Shed. I knew they would have supported me and it helped me get over my nerves.

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Emma(15) is deaf and has been involved with Haringey Shed for more than three years.

“When I first came to Haringey Shed I was frightened and nervous. I didn’t know if I would get on OK because I was deaf. But one of the leaders, Bizi, knew sign language and now everyone tries to sign and I have become friends with everyone. I enjoy coming along and like the stories that we perform.

“I really like acting and performing, but not alone. That would make me scared. I like acting with my friends because then I feel better about it. At Haringey Shed I am focussed. I get all the information I need via my interpreter. Otherwise I would get confused and frustrated.

“Sometimes if I’m ill and miss a session, when I come back everyone gathers around and asks me how I am and tells me how much they missed me. I like that a lot.”

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Remy (12) first worked with Haringey Shed in a summer theatre project in 2004 and went on to become a member of the Youth Theatre.

“Haringey Shed is all about having fun. Me and my friends have a good laugh messing around together, although of course we don’t make trouble. We play a lot of games in our groups and I really enjoy those too.

“I love acting and it’s really exciting when it comes to our performances. Just before you go on you feel really nervous, but I just think positively and try to do my best. The second performance is always better than the first because I have proved to myself that I can do it.

“Because my older sister, Gigi, has got special needs I think it helps me understand a lot of the kids at Haringey Shed better. It is fun to have people with special needs here because you get to talk to people that you wouldn’t normally meet at school. I would like to help support the younger children when I get older. They look like they would be a lot of fun to take care of.”

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I joined the Company on a summer school for their youth section. I was asked to shadow the professional writer, a wonderful opportunity for any young budding playwright. Those two weeks changed me somehow, because it made it clear that I wanted a career in community theatre and that this is possible if people believe in me as an able writer, who happens to ride a wheelchair and communicate with a talker. Tonight you will see a large number of children performing inclusively- this is not an act. I wish that you could take a glance from the wings backstage, then you would see a programme which touches many youngsters’ lives by introducing them to the worlds of performance and inclusion.
They give me a lot of responsibility to help support, devise and run sessions. As part of the team, I had the chance to go back to my secondary school as a leader of a project. I can’t express how remarkable this has been for me!
Inclusion here isn’t only for the kids; everyone regards it as something that happens from the top!

Kate Caryer