Nick Gibb visited the theatre training community interest company, ‘Making Theatre Gaining Skills CIC’ at the invitation of its director, Hilary Strong. The company uses theatre and film making to train young people and job seekers with employment skills.
The group of people Mr Gibb met had just completed a children’s video about nature and the garden.
The premises are the former Reynolds showroom in Longford Road, Bognor Regis, now operated as a training centre by ‘The Bognor Makerspace CIC’, also directed by Hilary Strong, with premises shared with the Aldingbourne Trust. The centre also provides lessons in maths and English.
Nick Gibb said: “The idea of training people in vital employment skills through the medium of theatre and film is highly effective. The children’s video I saw was very professional and educational, introducing young children to the vocabulary of nature, from caterpillars to tadpoles, and from Red Admiral butterflies to frogs, with visual techniques you might see in some of the best made children’s television.
“The training centre is still in its early days but, with the fallout from Covid, it is set to be in great demand as people confined to their homes during lockdown seek reintroduction to the labour market. I wish Hilary Strong and her impressive team every success with this important venture.”
Photos:
1. Socially distanced, from left Hilary Strong (director) ; volunteers Georgia Morley (18) and Chelsea Song (19); Nick Gibb. On the main set (a gardener's shed).
2. Another of the sets for the children’s video.