We use theatre to inspire our members and to facilitate personal growth. The Big House recognises the vulnerability of care leavers as well as their unplumbed talents, hopes and dreams. Through the use of theatre, the development of life skills and therapeutic intervention, The Big House nurtures a relationship of trust with our membership to work on behavioural and emotional problems. By tackling these fundamental needs we unleash our members’ creative potential and build their core skills to help them manage the stressful complexities of taking up a positive role in the community.

THE OPEN HOUSE PROJECT

At the start of the Open House Project we undertake in-depth personal assessments of each participant to identify the specific needs within the group; this will dictate the content of Life Skills workshops. Issues may include: Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Gang Membership, Criminal Activity, How to Avoid Homelessness, Successful Parenting, and Healthy Relationships.

Young people leave care with no or very few basic life skills. We will address deficits through practical workshops including Paying Bills, Accessing Social Services, and Healthy Eating.

Our workshops are designed to increase confidence, reduce feelings of isolation, broaden the ability to express feelings and develop aspirations for the future.Our workshops encourage self-awareness, communication and collaboration. We build our membership’s core skills, which are readily transferable to the workplace.

During this time, members also work with their appointed mentors planning their future goals and immediate targets for a return to training, education and employment after the Open House Project.

From the workshops, The Open House Project emerges. The members’ own stories inspire the basis of a play and we commission exciting and innovative professional writers to work with them to develop the material into a production. Following a rehearsal process, a guerrilla style, pop-up performance opens to the public.

The project concludes with a two week Post Production period where members work with their appointed mentors, planning their future goals and immediate targets for a return to training, education and employment.

Once you have completed The Big House Programme you become a senior member and have access to ongoing support from The Big House team and partnering organisations.

Our members are the most powerful advocates of The Big House. Some members who show strong leadership skills, who are charismatic and have the ability to inspire, may want to stay on at The Big House and be given the opportunity to lead their own workshops and become Buddies to new members.