The Picture of Dorian Gray Workshops

Workshops for Older People

Big Telly ran a special programme of workshops for older people to coincide with this production. The workshops provided an opportunity for participants to enjoy the story-telling elements of the production and discuss the issues raised by the novel. Groups were invited to take part in gentle drama games and movement exercises, catering specifically to the needs of the groups. The workshops were designed to increase access to older people to the arts, whilst promoting physical activity and stimulating creative thinking. The workshops were kindly funded by The Foyle Foundation, The Big Lottery Fund, Active Lifestyles, Lloyds TSB Foundation and Enkalon Foundation.

Painting By Numbers

The Painting by Numbers project involved local schools and Coleraine-based Irwin, Donaghey, Stockman accountants, part-funded by the Arts & Business New Partners Scheme and encouraged school-leavers to consider artistic elements involved in mathematics and related careers. Big Telly's designer worked with staff from IDS to design a portrait that could be recreated through painting by numbers. The students were invited to produce their own portrait of Dorian Gray, as each section of the portrait contained a mathematical problem set by the accountants. During the project, the production's designer has enlightened pupils about the use of effects in theatre. The portraits were displayed in the Riverside Theatre, Coleraine when The Picture of Dorian Gray was being performed there.

Creative Youth Partnerships Programme

During The Picture of Dorian Gray tour, pupils from schools across Northern Ireland participated in an Irish Classic workshop programme. Discussion issues revolved around how we deal with temptation, conscience, and the process of growing old in a society obsessed with indulgence, consumerism and youth. Creative Youth Partnerships is a ground breaking initiative aimed at developing youth arts throughout Northern Ireland. CYP is a three year initiative, launched in March 2004, offering long and short term programmes developing projects aimed at increasing opportunities for children and young people in every locality to access and participate in the arts. Big Telly has extensive knowledge and experience pf producing workshop projects alongside the rehearsal process for productions and will continue to develop opportunities for access programmes for a variety of groups, alongside the making of interactive and challenging pieces of theatre.