I'm Me Festival

Small Worlds are models by About Face artists. The small worlds are based on safe places where we can be ourselves. Each model is accompanied by a description of the story it's based on, from being fed cake in Gran's sitting room, to holidays with someone special.

You can view the text and photographs of the Small Worlds here: Small Worlds (PDF, 4.5 MB)

Length: 4 minutes

Silent Glimpses, Loud Truths is performed by Victoria Walters. Walter's movement is inspired by recordings of her friends and co-workers talking about representation. They talk about how they present themselves to the world and in photos. Walters moves with what they say. She explores how we make decisions about what makes us, us and what the world thinks of us.

You can view an archive recording of Silent Glimpses, Loud Truths here: Silent Glimpses, Loud Truths. Hijinx

Length: 15 minutes

Sistarz is a girl band. This performance is 3 songs from their future musical. They sing about their experiences of people making assumptions about them, facing unfair opinions and not being listened to. 'Sista-Hood' is their breakout hit, introducing the world to their band personas. 'Love Letters and Hate Mail' is about what the fans and media think of the band. 'Snap, Flash, Click, Pose' is about some of the stress and pressures they face. This performance is a way for us to talk about our own experiences, but through a set of characters.

You can view an archive recording of Sistarz here: Silent Glimpses, Loud Truths. Hijinx

Length: 15 minutes

Give Me Space opens with dancers entering one by one. They move to their own beat. We see and hear statements about lived experiences of disability. The dancers show pieces of papers that might be benefits forms and other paperwork. The work to fill out the pieces of paper never ends. The dancers' movements get more and more frustrated. They are together in a rigid ballet they did not choose to dance. Will they ever break free?

You can view an archive recording of Give Me Space here: Give me Space, ConfiCo

Length: 8 minutes

Gavin is a performer who has a lot to say and knows how to use his voice. But Gavin often has to overcome barriers to do so. Ryan is one of those barriers. Ryan and Gavin both try to be heard. This piece explores the theme of voice and how to use it. It shows the barriers to being heard that people with disabilities and autism face.

You can view an archive recording of Me First here: Me First, Lung-ha Theatre

Length: 10 minutes

Safe as Houses was made using Open Theatre’s nonverbal physical theatre practice. Non-verbal physical theatre means there was no talking when the artists made this. The group will work together to explore the places they feel safe. They will share how this project has revealed connections between themselves that they had not realised were there before.

You can view an archive recording of Safe as Houses here: Safe as Houses, Open Theatre

Length: 15 minutes

HELD is a physical theatre performance which explores different ways in which we can be held.  We can be held back by others, or our own anxieties and worries. We can be 'held up' and supported in our lives. We can be held together by our relationships and connections. The performance includes people moving alone, in pairs and with everyone else. There are people's voices with music. The voices help explain what is happening on stage and how the characters are feeling. The performance is more about ideas and emotions rather than telling a specific story.

You can view an archive recording of HELD here: HELD, Mind the Gap

Length: 9 minutes

This film features the ConfiCo dance artists exploring their lived experience of learning disability through choreography.

Watch: Knowing Disability Through Dance

Length: 4 minutes

This piece combines photography and music to express the feelings of being invisible and becoming visible. It features the all-female band, The Sparkle Sistaz.

Watch: Hear, They're Everywhere

Length: 5 minutes

The film is a glimpse into the creative process behind its writing of the song Everybody's Different by The Clubland Detectives.

Watch: Everybody's Different

Length: 10 minutes

A short documentary showing Lung Ha's exploration of the I'm Me Voice Doodle Book. It looks specifically at the impact that this has had on the participants and it has changed the way they will use their voice.

Watch: Listen Hear

Length: 4 minutes

This is about facing your fears. It starts with 'Jack' going for a walk in the sunshine, he comes across a ghost train ride and decides to buy a ticket. Once on the ride he can't get off.

Watch: Ghost Train

Length: 8 minutes

Oh, Dear Society is a collective letter from Open Theatre artists filmed on location in Birmingham. Each artist has created their individual letter to society, weaved together to present one letter in this film.

Watch: Oh, Dear Society