Emma & Gill, a new show touring to schools in Edinburgh and Lothians, questions what is ‘normal’ and why being different is to be celebrated.
Presented by two award-winning Scottish theatre companies, Catherine Wheels and Lung Ha Theatre Company, Emma & Gill tells the story of two friends who are making a theatre show together. The show is supposed to be all about Emma and her experience as an autistic person.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Gill doesn’t know as much about Emma or autism as she thinks she does. Gill thinks Emma is a bit sad and tragic. She thinks that Emma is not normal – not like Gill and everyone else. She doesn’t realise that Emma has lots of hidden talents and interests, and that maybe they have more in common than Gill would think.
The show features Emma McCaffrey who has performed with Lung Ha Theatre Company since 2013 and was diagnosed with autism when she was 11, and Gill Robertson the artistic director of Catherine Wheels. The show is directed by Lung Ha Theatre Company’s artistic director, Maria Oller, with design by Karen Tennent, text by James Ley and sound design by Danny Krass.
Catherine Wheels creates work for children & young people, and Lung Ha Theatre Company are one of the leading theatre companies for people with learning disabilities in Scotland. This is the first time Catherine Wheels and Lung Ha theatre companies have collaborated and the first time Lung Ha Theatre Company has created a show for schools.
Emma & Gill tours to P4-P7s in mainstream schools across Edinburgh and the Lothians until 8 March 2019. The show is part of the Theatre in Schools Scotland programme, a new initiative, to support and develop the provision of theatre and dance in Scotland’s schools.
TOUR LOCATIONS
Canal View Primary School
Edinburgh
Fox Covert RC Primary School
Edinburgh
Bonaly Primary School
Edinburgh
Law Primary School
North Berwick
Newcraighall Primary School
Edinburgh
Craigroyston Community High School
Edinburgh
Williamston Primary School
Livingston