Crafty Drama provides sneak preview of Picnic in the Priory performance

The Picnic in the Priory event will take place in the grounds of St Botolph’s Church, Colchester, among the historic Priory Church ruins on the 23rd of July 2022.

The group will be performing a selection of routines to popular music form artists such as Little Mix, Ed Sheeran, and the Spice Girls, as well as favourites from musical films such as The Greatest Showman.

This free community event is held annually by the group. It’s open to everyone in the community who would like to attend including other local organisations who would like to promote their services.

Taleena Harvey, Service Manager, ECL Woodlands Day Opportunities said: “We’re really excited to be holding our Picnic in the Priory event again this year. The group has some great routines that they are very much looking forward to sharing with everyone. They’ve been working hard on these routines since the beginning of the year and it’s great seeing the group improve over months of practise. It’s wonderful to see their confidence grow.”

ECL Crafty Drama gives adults with learning disabilities the chance to learn social, communication, motor, and life skills through the use of sign language, music, dance, and drama.

Crafty Drama customer Kiara comes to the group every Tuesday, speaking about what she likes most she said: “I love coming to Crafty Drama, I like signing and music the most.”

Kiara’s mother, Susan said: “Kiara is quite shy but since coming to the group her confidence has really grown. She is now often the first to come forward and speak in group discussions which is such a positive change. I’m so glad we found Crafty Drama; Kiara thoroughly enjoys it and it’s been so good for her personal development.

“She loves the routines where they sign to music, she really has the opportunity to express herself and you can see the joy on her face every time she performs. She is so excited about performing at Picnic in the Priory. This will be her second performance and she can’t wait; she talks about it all the time! She loves the atmosphere of performing at a community event, she gets a real buzz from it. She loves that people get enjoyment from watching routines that they have put together, it’s a real achievement for them all.”

Crafty Drama sessions are held daily Monday to Friday, customers are welcome to attend on specific days or come for a full week. The group is held in the church hall at St Botolph’s church Monday to Thursday and on a Friday takes place at ECL Colchester - Woodlands Day Centre.