Rainbow Sunshine Company (R.S.C.) is a drama group for people with learning and physical difficulties.

They meet every Thursdays between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. at Bedworth Arts Centre.  The group numbers around 25 plus volunteers and carers.

Adults without any disabilities are welcome as the emphasis is on developing drama skills and 'having FUN'.

The group has recently received a grant of £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help fund music and dance workshops on the theme of "The Way We Were".  This is a long term project, running to June 2010, and will teach the group about life in the Victorian era.

The Company  has been established for about 10 years and performs regularly Bedworth Arts Centre Studio Theatre  and in the Civic Hall, Bedworth.

Past productions include 'Wind in the Willows', 'Flights of Fancy', 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Space Odyssey',  'Jabberwocky' and two Gala Concerts. They have also produced a video film in conjunction with the Bedworth Video Group, entitled 'Shipwrecked'.

 

 

February 2003 - Congratulations to Arlene Brindley who received a Community Champions Award in the form of a Certificate of exceptional achievement for her work with the Rainbow Sunshine Company This award was presented by Ivan Lewis, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Young People and Adult Skills on behalf of the 'department for education and skills'

 

 

2006 was a very busy time for the Rainbow Sunshine Company.

Early in the year we began a series of comedy workshops with Juliet Forster, culminating in a performance of "7 Chances" at The Civic Hall in Bedworth on 16th June.  "7 Chances" was based roughly on the Buster Keaton silent movie of the same name.  This project was funded by Awards For All Lottery Fund and Warwickshire County Council Primary Care.

The second half of 2006, beginning in September, saw the group working with Wolfgang Stange and Colm Gallagher from the AMICI Dance Company.  The company produced an innovative dance performance entitled "Confetti" - the story of a wedding including the wedding feast and all the different celebrations involved.  The plot was developed through ideas, discussions and improvisations using music from all over the world.  Wolfgang and Colm were mentoring two local dancers, Rebecca Thomas and Bruce Tetlow who performed with the group.  This project was funded by joint grants from Warwickshire County Council - County Arts, Heart of England Foundation, Danscape and the Arts Council.

 

 

The Group continues to go from strength to strength with the weekly sessions attracting 35 to 40 members including carers and volunteers.  New volunteers are always welcomed.  No experience is necessary either in drama or working with learning disabilities.

At the moment we are working on a series of music workshops with Anna Ryder to help the group make full use of a wide range of percussion instruments which have been purchased with funding from Community Plan.  The Rainbow Sunshine Company intend to use the instruments in their weekly sessions.  To combine drama, dance and music is the ultimate aim.

The group is run by a Management Committee and tutors  Committee/production meetings are held monthly and any group member is welcome to attend to air their views or make suggestions.

Click here to join in with the Rainbow Sunshine Song

The words were written by Evelyn Harper to the tune of 'Blaze Away' by Abe Holzman.

Here it is - Sing along!!

"We are the Rainbow Sunshine Comp'ny

We'll entertain you with a smile.

We hope you like our little drama,

We're glad you came to join us

For a little while.

We like to laugh and have a sing, song,

A happy crowd are we..ee,

We're all pals together,

The Rainbow Sunshine Company."

 

 

 Group Leader -  Arlene Brindley

can be contacted at Bedworth Arts Centre.

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Updated 17th November 2007