How to Fall in Love with RAWD
Be mine forever? How about an hour then? A new show next week will be pairing off strangers to spread the word about How to Fall in Love. RAWD is a Wirral-based theatre group that has been active for a two years, mainly producing pantomimes and devised pieces. Dedicated to helping vulnerable adults grow within the arts, the company comprises actors with learning difficulties. Their latest, brand new production How to Fall in Love is its first undertaking at a city theatre, and begins at the Unity next week. Described as 'an hour-long love affair', the play uses promenade theatre to take the audience on an adventure on the streets of Liverpool, encouraging participants who don’t know each other to get involved in the action. Developed by Tim Jeeves, How to Fall in Love is RAWD’s most ambitious project to date. At the helm is city actor and one half of of Random Acts of Wildness, director Graham Hicks; his sister Georgina is one of the cast members. RAWD meets every Wednesday at the University Academy in Birkenhead. "We really want to raise the profile of the company and push our performers a little bit more," says Graham. "They have never done street theatre before and it is quite an adventurous show. It is a really exciting time for us - it's a complete unknown but if you don't try something, you'll never know." The audience of How to Fall in Love will be split into twos and led on a 'date' around the city by the RAWD actors, encountering different characters along the way, returning to the theatre for the show's finale. Graham adds: "They are all amazing and have come on so much from our first project, and it's the right time for the company to continue to push them further. They are an inspiration for me personally, as much as anything else. The whole idea of doing the project is to raise awareness of people with disabilities and their relationships. We have couples who are dating who met through RAWD and we wanted to explore the idea of people with learning difficulties being entitled to the same rights as anyone else." Catch How to Fall in Love at the Unity on August 6 and 7. It starts from 7 pm, with sessions for two beginning every 20 minutes and lasting an hour. Tickets are £9 (£7 concessions), contact the box office on 0844 873 2888 to book a time slot. The last performance each evening is at 8.40pm. Please note that this show is for over 18s only.
