JOY Festival 2022
JOY Festival will showcase some of the best quality disabled artists in the borough.
Spread across 4 days, JOY Festival is a celebration of local disabled artists, produced by Turtle Key Arts in partnership with HF ArtsFest and the Lyric.
Tuesday 21 June, 7pm:
Celebrate the opening night of JOY with cabaret by Rona Topaz and music by 2Decks followed by the world premiere of ‘Where the Magic Happens,’ a new play inspired by local stories from people in Hammersmith & Fulham and a film screening from Turtle Key’s Community Group Film Projects by The Gate and Action on Disability.
Featuring:
2Decks – Darren will present music which he has created from his time at the Gate, an arts centre for adults with learning disabilities in Shepherds Bush London.
Rona Topaz – Singer, songwriter and actress.
Where the Magic Happens Performed by Aqua Ephraim, John Fuller, Nell Hardy, Noah Silverstone & Saida Ahmed
Written by Sam Obigbesan & Lisle Turner.
Directed by Aisling Gallagher & Claire Coache
Design Ioana Curelea
Stage Management Daniel Palmer & Sharon Calcutt
With support from Fleur Rooth, Frank Wurzinger, Michelle Hudson & Stella Farina
Wednesday 22 June, 7pm
Enjoy performances from Young Amici, West London College and a second chance to watch the specially commissioned play ‘Where the Magic Happens,’ inspired by local stories of people in Hammersmith & Fulham and a film screening from Turtle Key’s Community Group Film Projects and MENCAP HF.
Featuring:
Young Amici – A new contemporary dance piece by Young Amici inspired by connections, devised as part of a residency at LEVEL Centre.
The Lion King – West London College have created their own version of the Lion King, with their own made puppets and shortened version of the story.
Thursday 23rd June, 7pm (age rating 14+)
Special performances from Ignite Me Workshop Theatre, Response Ability Theatre, stand-up comedy from Mark Davidson and a film screening from Turtle Key’s Community Group Film Projects and This New Ground.
Featuring:
Ignite Me Workshop Theatre have been rehearsing with two groups – one group in Hammersmith, working in partnership with Safety Net-People First, and one in Richmond, working in partnership with Ruils. Safety Net are currently funded by Hammersmith and Fulham Council and run a regular drama group with Ruils which is inclusive, free and open to join. This performance brings these two groups together. The actors have devised and created individual monologues which tell a part of their story and which together paint a picture of the current state of things for Disabled People. Humorous, heartfelt and unconventional, Unheard Voices will question you and demand your participation!
Stand-up comedy by Mark Davidson.
NoMad – A young woman is taking shelter form a sudden storm underneath a large tree. She does not know where she is, how she got there, or where she is going. The contents of her rucksack barely give her any clues, so she relies on the fractured memories that flit back into her mind bit by by bit as the rain gradually filters through the leaves and it becomes harder and harder to avoid the question: do I have somewhere to sleep tonight ? The audience insists on staying to listen to her, in spite of all her warnings that they are not safe with her. And when the full truth finally comes back to her, they see just how hard it can be for a NoMad to get used to going home.
Friday 24th June, 7pm
The final night of JOY will feature dance from KDYoga & Dance Studio, a new play by Cat’s Whiskers Community Arts Dive in Drama, Spoken Poetry by Richard Downes & Wendy Young, music by E-Unique and a film screening from Turtle Key’s Community Group Film Projects E-Unique.
Featuring:
Peace & Love – Kdyoga & Dance crew perform their newest contemporary dance piece.
The Seven Ages of Us – A revue style performance with music about some of the many changes that have taken place in society during the lives of elders. From the founding of the NHS, the first man on the moon to technology and lockdown. Created by Cat’s Whiskers Community Arts Dive in Drama based at Riverside Studios.
Smoke & Fire – Two spoken word artists face off against each other to discover if the word is mightier than the sword. Richard Downes smokes. Wendy Young fires. Who will win this verbal joust. Only you can decide. Alternative spoken word pieces performed by Richard Downes and Wendy Young.
The Uniquez – E-Unique is a local not-for-profit social enterprise set up to deliver inclusive activities to promote the image and contribution of disabled people, combat stigma and discrimination. It provides music workshops focusing on singing & song writing. They will be showcasing their work from the latest workshops.