Ripon Walled Garden & Jennyruth Workshops – The Big Red Shoes

The Big Red Shoes is a playful, participant-built performance created with Ripon Walled Garden, Jennyruth Workshops, and The Art Guild CIC. Using oversized props, movement, humour, and Makaton, it reimagines The Big Red Shoes as a story about pressure, fame, rest, connection, and the joy of dancing together.

Ripon Walled Garden supports adults with learning and physical disabilities through creative activities. They say, “Our members love participating in the theatre festival and love sharing their creativity with new audiences.”

Jennyruth Workshops is a hub of creativity and skills development dedicated to providing meaningful work and opportunities for adults who have learning disabilities.

Project led by Douglas Thompson and Sharon Hockin from The Art Guild:

Douglas is an artist and workshop leader. He helps people make art, drama and creative projects together, bringing people of all ages and abilities together to have fun and learn new skills.

​Douglas teaches creative workshops and helps run local arts events and festivals. He is studying for a PhD in art and disability studies and works to make the arts open to everyone.

Sharon loves art and loves how creating art makes her feel. She loves experimenting and playing with lots of different techniques and materials.  She was a teacher and now works with local charities, festivals, community groups and individuals exploring and developing work and ideas.  She says “I get a huge buzz out of working with people and hearing what they want to say, that is  when the magic truly happens!” Sharon believes in having a voice and knows that art enables you to shout out about what is important to you.

FREE EVENT

2.00-2.30pm Ripon Spa Gardens