Freedom Moving: Then and Now - Gosforth Civic Theatre

Our flagship performance has grown! GCT's annual platform showcasing new work by people with learning disabilities and autism is this year part of a national project. We are shoulder to shoulder with 60 other arts centres reflecting on what freedom means 80 years after the end of the Second World War as part of Future Arts Centre's Our Freedom - Then & Now project.

This is our response: our first full-length show involving more than 60 performers, dancers, musicians and our friends Sing United!

80 years ago, Gosforth Central Hall was opened as a place for all the community to gather. It was built as a memorial to "remember the brave people of our town, who gave their lives whilst serving in Her Majesties Forces and the Merchant Navy in the 1939-1945 war". The hall was very much built by the community of Gosforth; "Every rate payer and resident of Gosforth is aware that the Central Hall was built on behalf of the people of Gosforth as a war memorial for perpetual public remembrance."

It has grown and moved since then, specifically as we are now Gosforth Civic Theatre and a social enterprise with a mission to 'raise people's expectations of what people with learning disabilities can achieve' and in doing so, we welcome all the community in, with activities for all.

This performance piece uses dance, physical theatre and song to celebrate this journey of freedom, to honour its past heritage then and celebrate where we are now, informed by local community. We invite you to come along on this journey with us...