Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Appeals: Chicken Shed Theatre Company Children's Theatre

Diana Matthewman
Friday 09 September 1994 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Phillip Constantinou and Amy Barnett, members of Chicken Shed Theatre Company Children's Theatre, in Trail My Soul at the Criterion Theatre, London, earlier this year. The company offers opportunities to young people of all sorts of physical and mental ability to perform together. 'A Positive View', an exhibition of photographs at the Saatchi Gallery, in St John's Wood, north London, followed by an auction of the 200 exhibits at Sotheby's, will benefit two charities, Chicken Shed and the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DEBRA). Chicken Shed is hoping to open a workshop building in Enfield, London, as a base for its 450 members. DEBRA is appealing for funds for its research into the causes and treatment for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group of genetic disorders affecting the skin.

The Chicken Shed Theatre Company was founded in 1974, from a disused chicken shed in north London. The casts of its productions range in age from seven to 30, from a wide variety of backgrounds, including those who would usually be excluded from such events - those with handicaps, the blind, deaf or autistic. It aims to develop individual skills through dance, drama, music, mime and production workshops. At present the workshops operate from church halls around London, also travelling to schools, day centres and colleges. The company wants to build a permanent workshop in Enfield, at a cost of pounds 2.4m.

DEBRA's research funding has resulted in important advances in the understanding of the genetics of EB, a condition in which the skin and internal body linings blister spontaneously or as a result of rubbing or knocks. There is still no cure for EB, but the genes responsible for three of its 22 types have been isolated, largely as a result of DEBRA research, and it is hoped that, providing funding remains available, effective treatments will be available by the end of the decade.

For further information, contact: Chicken Shed, contact: Chicken Shed, 79 Southbury Road, Enfield EN1 1PJ, telephone 081-367 0070; The Director, DEBRA, DEBRA House, Wellington Business Park, Dukes Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG11 6LS, telephone 0344 771961.

The exhibition runs from Wednesday 14 September to Friday 30 September at the Saatchi Gallery, 98a Boundary Road, London NW8, and exhibits will be auctioned at Sotheby's, 34 New Bond Street, London W1, on Wednesday 5 October.

(Photograph omitted)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in