Sue Pickwell is a student at Mid Cheshire College who took part in Animate!’s performance ‘The Salt Sessions’.  

Following the success of this performance Sue is now undertaking a work placement with Nicole who leads Animate! Here Sue describes her experience of leading a workshop with Nicole:   

“I have been assisting Nicole from ‘Animate!’,  working with students at Pettypool college, preparing them for their pantomime to be performed on stage in September. The college is a specialist provider for young adults with learning disabilities

In each session we have groups of students to work on different scenes. We start by explaining the story, and a brief description of their individual characters. The pupils warm up with movement and then work on the scene. Music is used to distinguish different characters and the pupils have contributed their own ideas, themes and songs.  Today Adam chose ‘Bad Boys’ for the Minions and ‘The North’ as the piece to  come on stage to.

We also work with the students on characterisation and movement.  As this piece will involve dance, we also get the opportunity to have a go at some choreography .   

As we work through a scene, we will run it through with the students a few times at which point they are usually confident enough to do it by themselves with prompts.

It’s been great working with these students.   The college has a lovely atmosphere.  The students are always happy and fun to be with and are really excited about being in their very own pantomime.”