We are so excited to be exhibiting the work of students at Regent College, Newcastle as part of DUST Rising’s Every Other Seat exhibition. Below are the details of the different seats, which are currently featured in the ex-Dorothy Perkins window at the Roebuck Centre, Newcastle-under-Lyme from Tues 16 February to Sat 24 April.
Julie Gould, Tutor at Regent College:
We are so excited as a college to be part of this inspiring exhibition. Live theatre, shows, the arts are so important for our well-being, this has never been so apparent as this past year. When you no longer have access, it highlights the importance of being a part of it; creating, sharing and experiencing. My art group have made each of their seats about their own experiences and what is important to them about live theatre, they have all communicated their ideas in their own way, it is so important for them to be able to do this, to express ideas, thoughts and then share them with others enables them to develop communication skills, confidence and experience. Art has such unique way of enabling us to do this. Thank you DUST for including Regent College to be part of Every Other Seat, encouraging diversity and highlighting that we all have our own voice and a way to express it.
Thomas really misses the magic and special characters when he reminisces about his favourite live shows. His seat relates to his very favourite … Sooty’s Magic Show, he is creating a theatre with a puppet of Sooty, Thomas reminds us that Sooty is a select mute and came up with the idea that people could potentially put their words into his mouth so he can pass it on about how lockdown has effected the arts for them, in his very familiar way via Harry, Mathew or now Richard. Izzy Wizzy let’s get busy!
What would you have him wave his wand and magic for you?
Sam is himself isolating and is working from home via zoom, each week communicating his ideas to his Learning Support Worker. Every year he usually goes to see the live shows of Strictly with all of his family. He has really missed going this year, he misses the excitement of the costumes and waiting for the scores and comments from the judges. His chosen seat’s shape is like the male dancers broad shoulders and slim waist. He wanted to create his own costume, showing his LSW images and then testing how different materials would work. Sam said that although he has been able to still watch via TV the excitement of the live show and sharing it with his family is so important to him.
What do you think the empty seat next to him represents?
Rebekah’s seat is based on pantomime relating to her favourite performance Robin Hood. Her favourite thing about the show was the jokes and interaction with the audience, and her seat is based around that. A play on the characters and the humour and fun that is shared that we all love in a panto. Writing, drawing and telling jokes are key factors in the way Rebekah loves to communicate, her seat tells her own story about why live shows are so important and the memories they give to everyone who looks forward to these very unique yet predictable shows we love to go to each year with our families… and shout out those important key quotes, ‘he’s behind you!’.
Jamie’s favourite pantomime is Cinderella, he especially loves the magic and the music, he is a very sensory learner, his seat is caught between the magic when it transforms from pumpkin to coach, a little bit like how we are all stuck in a transition in lockdown. Jamie has made all his own choices to make his seat by selecting them from images or objects, loving being involved in the art it’s self; especially the painting and sparkle. We all need some sparkle and magic!
