AMBER BRAVES THE COLD FOR BIG SLEEP OUT
On World Homeless Day (10 October), our very own Amber Allen and the Director of HOME Mike Speight took part in a sponsored Sleep Out outside the Bridge Theatre to raise funds for the London Creative Learning project.
Amber said: “Thank you to everyone who donated to the Sleep Out! It was a great success, and thanks to everyone’s generosity we have raised £1472 – a fantastic amount! It was truly an unforgettable experience. We know one night could never replicate the true experience of a person living on the streets, but it has given us a new level of sympathy for those who have to call the streets their home. Whist we were never in any real danger, the thought that something ‘might’ happen was always there, so I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to do it alone.
“We were very lucky that the weather had stayed dry, but it was truly a cold that gets through to your bones. This is not a reality I would wish on anyone. Lack of comfort, dignity and privacy can understandably break your spirit. We did this to raise funds for our Creative Learning show HOME at Trafalgar Theatre, that works with people who have been homeless before. We know that one show cannot cure homelessness, but it can spread awareness and give an audience a new perspective of how a person can end up in such a situation.
“HOME will be on at the Trafalgar Theatre on 15 November for one night only. If you can’t attend but would still like to contribute, the donation link is still live!”
A new one-off performance of HOME will be performed by Beginners Please at Trafalgar Theatre on Sunday 15 November.
This spectacular play takes the true stories of the residents of an East London homeless shelter and the people who work there and weaves them into a stunning display of human resilience.
Beginners Please is a community outreach theatre company that works with people who have gone through unimaginable hardship and gives access to the performing arts. This year, the company is built of amateur actors who have a lived experience of homelessness.
