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Falling - Open Theatre's life-affirming new show

  • 22 minutes ago
  • 3 min read
Falling. Photo courtesy of Open Theatre.
Falling. Photo courtesy of Open Theatre.

Falling performed by Open Theatre’s ensemble company of young performers touring to

Birmingham REP, The Belgrade (Coventry) and Arena Theatre (Wolverhampton) this May. Dates and times below.

Preview

 

Falling is an experience on the borderlines of theatre, dance and mime. This ground-breaking theatre show has been devised and is performed by Open Theatre’s ensemble company of young performers. Described as the “most validating piece of disability justice theatre that I have ever seen”.

 

The Coventry-based company has built an international reputation for creating high quality non-verbal physical theatre with young people with learning disabilities, using movement, music, and visual storytelling to connect with audiences in ways that go beyond words.

 

Falling is a boundary-breaking piece of theatre that explores the inner world of a young woman dreaming of a better life.

 

She wants to break away from her urge to smash things, and to find her tribe. But falling in love sparks more chaos and her dream-world reality continues to conspire against her. Will she ever find her freedom?

 

This new work has been devised and is performed by a group of young emerging performers, aged 21-35, who have trained in Open Theatre’s non-verbal physical theatre practice.


Falling - a boundry breaking piece of theatre. Photo courtesy of Open Theatre.
Falling - a boundry breaking piece of theatre. Photo courtesy of Open Theatre.

 

Millie Parker takes the lead role in Falling. She comments: “Falling is a mixture of dream and reality, inspired by some of my lived experiences. What makes Falling different is that it’s been created collectively by our ensemble. We came together as a team, we devised and shared and inspired ideas with each other.

 

“When people look at a theatre company like ours there are often misconceptions about what we may or may not be able to feel. With Falling we wanted to explore and reveal the complexity of love, life, relationships, loss, grief – anything a human person feels in their soul.”

 

Richard Hayhow, Director of Falling, adds: “Ensemble work has been at the centre of Open Theatre’s work for many years, involving a long-term improvising and devising process, and drawing on all the elements of our non-verbal physical theatre practice. Music is used to support the development of character, situation and narrative, replacing the use of text as the usual driving force behind theatre-making. Working in this way ensures that every member of the ensemble is able to contribute to the way a piece of work grows and develops and places them at the centre of that process.”

 

Open Theatre places young people with learning disabilities at the heart of their work. The company has developed a unique non-verbal physical theatre practice, which allows people of all abilities to connect with each other and find their creativity. Through this practice, young people build confidence, express ideas, and take up space in culture and society in meaningful ways.

 

Each year, Open Theatre works with over 5,000 young people in 19 special schools and colleges around the West Midlands. Open Theatre also devises and produces performances, films and outdoor work, and supports artists as they develop professional careers. 

 

Dates and times:

Birmingham REP: Friday 8th May & Saturday 9th May 2026, 7.45pm

The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry: Thursday 14th May 2026,1.30pm & 7.45pm

Arena Theatre Wolverhampton: Wednesday 20th May 2026,1.30pm & 7.30pm

Run Time: 50 minutes (approx). Ticket price from £8.

 


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