A WINCHESTER theatre group recently gave a dazzling display at Thornden Hall.
Blue Apple Theatre's For One Night Only! brought together performing arts groups from Winchester, Totton, Hedge End, Southampton, and even online, celebrating the creative power of people with learning disabilities.
In attendance were the Lord Mayor of Southampton Councillor Valerie Laurent; the Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Nick Couldrey; the Deputy Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith; and Shaun Riches, head of the Hampshire Music Service.
Associate Director Rebecca Godden curated For One Night Only!, offering a taste of Blue Apple's diverse work across Hampshire and beyond.
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The evening concluded with a preview of Blue Apple's upcoming production of The Wind in the Willows, due to be staged on June 26 and 27 at the Theatre Royal and also livestreamed on June 27.
Reviewer Elaine Chapman said: "The performances during the hour-and-a-half show were a showcase offering a cross-section of entertainment showing the audience everything that performers with disabilities have a vast range of abilities to offer to the art world and are too often overlooked.
"The standard presented by Blue Apple is superb. The entire creative team behind them work exceptionally hard."
Local learning disability charity Winchester Go LD added on social media: "What a brilliant evening. Fantastic performances and what a brilliant learning disability community we're all part of. Huge congratulations to all the Blue Apple Theatre performers and their support crews for such a fun, happy and inclusive evening."
The show attracted new audience members with more than 54 per cent of show survey respondents saying they had never seen a Blue Apple show before.
Winchester's Stage Companies presented a taste of Blue Apple's summer production of The Wind in the Willows which will be staged at Theatre Royal Winchester with a guest cameo role by Chris Packham.
Tickets are already on sale at Theatre Royal Winchester with special offers on large group bookings available.
For more information and tickets, visit bit.ly/BATWindInWillows.
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