Inclusive opportunities to engage in the arts.
On a cool spring evening in September 2019, hordes of family, friends and supporters descended on Wellington's BATS Theatre. It was the start of Disability Pride Week and Wellington-based theatre company, Silver Noodle Soup had been rehearsing for weeks to bring their first professional performance to life.
It was a proud moment for founders, Maggie Rose Paine and Bernadette Macartney, who had started the theatre group four years prior when Maggie was struggling to find drama classes that worked to her strengths. "Maggie has sensory, intellectual and physical disabilities. She was often left out of productions or overlooked for parts she would be great at," says Bernadette, "so we decided to do something about it."
Silver Noodle Soup’s performance at BATS Theatre in September 2019.
Strengths and Interest-based classes
Silver Noodle Soup's classes are strengths-based and are guided by the interests of the members. "If we know a member is interested in film and another is amazing at remembering lines, we will specifically create an opportunity for both members to shine and build their skills," says Bernadette. This approach works, says Bernadette, as Silver Noodle Soup respects and has high expectations of all our members.
"There sadly seems to sometimes be an attitude of teachers having lower their expectations of people with disabilities, but we don't do that – knowing others have confidence in their abilities helps our members thrive, be proud of who they are and share their stories in a creative and powerful way."
One of Silver Noodle Soup’s guiding principles is “nothing about us without us!” All students have a say and participate in all aspects of theatrical leadership and direction. Even their name, 'Silver Noodle Soup' is a result of a company-wide in-joke shared at the first film-making workshop. "It seems an unusual name, but it actually makes a lot of sense," says Bernadette; the analogy being that while all ingredients in a soup are different, much like the individuals that make up the company, they are delicious and create a beautiful flavour and experience when they come together.
Silver Noodle Soup Rehearsal.
Supporting professional development
With many Company members hoping to find paid work and pursue careers in the performing arts, Silver Noodle Soup also facilitates connections with industry experts and fellow arts professionals. This too, is needed, as according to Statistics New Zealand, only 38.7% of disabled people are in employment, compared to 78.3% of non-disabled people.
"Everyone has valuable and important contributions to make to society, including disabled people, so we try to create as many opportunities for growth and pathways within the performing arts as possible," says Bernadette.
From running group rehearsals to readying the studio lights at showtime, experienced tutors play an instrumental role in Silver Noodle Soup's story. Nikau Foundation was delighted to support Silver Noodle Soup's mahi, providing a $2,750 grant from the Kris Fielding We Can! Fund and the Henry and Eileen Wise Medical Trust for tutor salary support.
This grant is particularly special as it is the first given out by Kris Fielding We Can! Fund. Established by Alan to honour the memory of his late son, Kris, who had spina bifida, the Fund aims to support initiatives for young people experiencing 'diffability' to unlock their potential.
