Celebrating Learning Disability week at the Customs House
19 June 2024
On Tuesday 18th June, The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company presented an afternoon of performances at The Customs House for Learning Disability week to an audience including the Mayor of South Tyneside, Cllr Fay Cunningham, and the North East Dolly Parton, Andrea Pattison.
The group presented Dolly’s Boot’s, a new play created and performed by artists with learning disabilities and autistic artists from the Twisting Ducks’ Performing Arts Academy based at The Customs House. Set against a backdrop of Dolly Parton's timeless classics as well as other sing-along favourites, the play followed the heartwarming tale of ‘Dolly’ and her triumph over adversity to follow her dreams to perform on stage.
The group were delighted to perform for VIPs including the North East Dolly Parton, Andrea Pattison, who is performing in ‘The Dolly Parton Story’ at The Customs House on Friday 21st June, as well as the Mayor of South Tyneside, Cllr Fay Cunningham.
In addition, audiences enjoyed a performance by The Twist, a band composed of musicians with learning disabilities and autistic musicians from The Twisting Ducks Band Academy. The performed a set list of popular covers as well as original material exploring their own lived experience.
Learning Disability Week is dedicated to ensuring people with learning disabilities are seen, heard, and valued. This year, The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is hosting a series of events across South Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne, visit https://www.thetwistingducks.co.uk/events for more information.
Lisa, who plays Dolly in Dolly’s Boots said: “We are a cast of people with learning disabilities and just like Dolly we have got each other and have overcome challenges to perform this amazing show.”
Jay Hare, CEO of The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, said, “At The Twisting Ducks Theatre company we are passionate about ensuring everyone has the chance to be seen, heard, and valued. For Learning Disability Week, our members present a programme of performances and events that celebrates the unique stories and lived experience of people with learning disabilities and autistic people."
Funding boost from the Health Lottery Foundation enables new dance project for members of The Twisting Ducks The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company has been awarded a grant from The Health Lottery Foundation to enable people with a learning disability and autistic people to work with a professional choreographer to develop dance and movement skills for two new performances. The funding will enable members of The Twisting Ducks’ Newcastle Performing Arts Academy (who meet weekly at Theatre Royal Newcastle) and Morpeth Performing Arts Academy (who meet weekly at Morpeth Methodist church) to work with a dance choreographer to develop their movement skills and explore story-telling through dance. Each group will create an original movement and dance routine to be performed live at Newcastle Theatre Royal and Morpeth Methodist Church in 2027. The project has been funded by The Health Lottery Foundation, who distribute money raised from players of The Health Lottery to projects that unite people to improve health, wellbeing and happiness. The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is a charity that works with people with a learning disability and autistic people to tackle inequalities and drive social change through performing arts and issue-based theatre. Based across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, The Twisting Ducks supports over 800 people a year to express themselves creatively, build skills and social connections, and achieve aspirations as performers, musicians, and DJs. Jay Hare, CEO at The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, said: "We are so pleased to have been awarded this grant from the Health Lottery Foundation. It will enable us to work with our performers with a learning disability to help them develop their movement skills and to explore story-telling through dance. What's more, by coming together each week to create performance work, our group members will develop lasting social connections and improved wellbeing. We’re grateful to players of The Health Lottery for supporting our work." Becky, a member of The Twisting Ducks' Newcastle Performing Arts Academy, said: "It's going to be really good to give us a new experience. We already do a lot of dance in this group, so it's going to be nice to learn new things, from a new person. It's going to be good for the show." Rachel, a member of The Twisting Ducks' Morpeth Performing Arts Academy, said: “It will be a really great opportunity for everyone in the group to get some good dance tips and to teach us some moves! Especially Jamie who loves to work on his street dance!” Find out more about joining our Performing Arts Academies here
Team Twisting Ducks raise £2,135 at the 2026 AJ Bell Great North Run! Six dedicated supporters, Cat, Sonia, Jane, Jo, Connor and Mish, took on the challenge of the 2026 AJ Bell Great North Run on Sunday 13 September 2026. Together, they ran the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields and raised an incredible £2,135 to support the work of The Twisting Ducks. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all six runners, as well as everyone who sponsored them and helped them reach this fantastic total! Every pound raised will support our work across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, creating opportunities for people with a learning disability and autistic people to express themselves creatively, develop skills and social connections, and achieve their aspirations as performers, musicians and DJs. Thank you, Team Twisting Ducks! 💚 Are you interested in joining Team Twisting Ducks at the 2027 Great North Run? Join our mailing list to find out when you can secure your place .
Join us for fright night at Fresh
The Twisting Ducks is delighted to have six fantastic supporters taking on the AJBell Great North Run on Sunday 13th September 2026, including four dedicated supporters and two members of staff. All funds raised will directly support The Twisting Ducks’work with people with a learning disability and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. Among them is Conor, who said: "Having worked in the Theatre industry myself as well as studying & graduating with a Masters Degree (MA) in Theatre, I've seen first hand what incredible work charities like Twisting Ducks do towards bringing accessibility and opportunities to those who have difficulties accessing theatre." Cat, Drama Facilitator at The Twisting Ducks, said: "Working for The Twisting Ducks over the past 5 years has been a privilege I can't explain and I see first hand the work that this vital money goes into. Arts organisations in the North East need every little bit of help right now and charities like The Twisting Ducks are more than just theatre and fun, they're community, they're agency, and they're a vital life line for so many people. This will be my second time running the GNR for the ducks and last year's training made me fall in love with running and hilariously changed my life too. I have M.E./CFS and this is a chronic illness/disability that I've lived with now for most of my life. Running has transformed my relationship with my body and I'm so beyond grateful for the experience and for everyone's support that got me there and through lots of tears and many packets frozen peas on my knees. Last year's goal was to simply get to the end in one piece and this year's goal is to do 2 half marathons in one year! Completed the EMF and now we're onto the GNR again. Any donations, no matter the size will be massively appreciated" Sonia, Drama Facilitator and Drama Support worker at The Twisting Ducks, said: "I have been lucky enough to have been working for this fantastic charity for the last five years. It would mean a great deal to me if you could spare a moment to help raise some money to support this wonderful cause." 60,000 determined and dedicated runners make the AJ Bell Great North Run the World’s biggest marathon – famous for its warm North East welcome, unbeatable atmosphere and the millions raised for good causes. The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company provides accessible arts opportunities for people with a learning disability and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. The charity supports over 800 people a year to express themselves creatively, to develop their skills and social connections, and to achieve their aspirations as performers, musicians and DJ's. Meet Team Twisting Ducks Let's cheer on our fantastic team of runners as they take on the AJBell Great North Run and help make a difference! Visit their individual fundraising pages (click the links below) to follow their progress and donate today.
Launching in September 2026 - Performing Arts Academy at Alnwick Playhouse (ages 16+) - DJ Academy at Blyth Family Hub (ages 16+) - Youth Theatre groups at Morpeth Pavilion (ages 10-14 & 15-19)
The Twisting Ducks' Spectrum theatre group is opening its doors to new members. The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is inviting people with a learning disability and autistic people (aged 16+) who live in Newcastle to attend a free taster day for its Spectrum Theatre Group at Northern Stage on Thursday 30th July , from 10am-12.30pm. The event comes as The Twisting Ducks launches a rare opportunity to join its funded theatre group in Newcastle. Membership is free and no previous performing arts experience is required. Spectrum Theatre Group meets weekly at Northern Stage and offers members the chance to develop creative skills, build confidence, make friends and create original theatre performances in a supportive environment. The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is a charity that works with people with a learning disability and autistic people to tackle inequalities and drive social change through performing arts and issue-based theatre. Based across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, The Twisting Ducks supports over 800 people a year to express themselves creatively, build skills and social connections, and achieve aspirations as performers, musicians, and DJs. It is an exciting time to join Spectrum Theatre Group as members are currently developing BUS, a major two-year immersive theatre and storytelling project funded by Arts Council England and Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund. The project will explore the experiences of bus travel and bring together stories from people with a learning disability and autistic people as well as other marginalised groups including young people, refugees, older people, and LGBTQ+ communities. The project will culminate in a touring multimedia performance staged on a bus, visiting schools, arts venues and festivals across the region in 2027. Spectrum theatre group is for residents of Newcastle aged 16+ with a learning disability and or autism. The Twisting Ducks is particularly keen to hear from people whose voices are currently underrepresented, including young adults aged 18-25, people from the global majority, women, non-binary and trans people. Jan Willem van den Bosch, Lead facilitator and Project Manager at The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company said: “Spectrum Theatre Group at The Twisting Ducks is a welcoming space where people can build confidence, make work together and express themselves creatively. Our taster day is an exciting opportunity for people interested in joining our group to come and see what we do.” Neil, member of Spectrum Theatre Group, said: “Spectrum is a friendly and supportive group. We get to do a variety of things like singing, acting and script-writing.” Kevin, member of Spectrum Theatre group, said: “We learn how to do new things. It’s about expressing yourself and having fun… and it’s free!”
The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is proud to announce that we have been awarded Bronze accreditation through the Investors in the Environment (iiE) scheme, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and strengthening sustainable practice across our work. The announcement comes as we join celebrations for World Environment Day , reflecting our commitment to caring for the environment through the work we do in theatres, community spaces and cultural venues across the North East. The Investors in the Environment scheme is an accessible and proven framework that supports organisations to improve their environmental performance. Run by a sustainability charity, iiE has been helping organisations of all sizes for over 15 years to take practical, measurable action on sustainability. Our Bronze award recognises the strong foundations we have already put in place, including a signed Environmental Policy, the early development of an Environmental Management System, and a broad range of practical actions across waste, travel, procurement, staff engagement and community projects. A key strength highlighted in our environmental audit was our commitment to accessibility. We have developed Easy Read environmental materials to ensure our environmental work is accessible to people with a learning disability and autistic people. Each of our performing arts groups now has a Green Champion who is passionate about the environment and help encourage green actions such as recycling, switching off lights and equipment, re-using materials and sharing ideas for how their group can be more environmentally friendly. We have also introduced a wide range of practical environmental actions across the organisation, including: A strong waste reduction approach with a clear commitment to recycling. Significant reductions in paper use, including a 95% reduction in Board meeting papers through the use of second-hand iPads. Inclusive and sustainable travel planning, including accessible travel guides and increased use of public transport and online meetings. Creative environmental projects such as our Green Champions and the Bus project, which embed environmental thinking into our artistic and community work.
Join Team Twisting Ducks at AJ Bell Great North Run! We have limited spaces remaining for this year's Great North Run on 13th September 2026, and we'd love for you to join our team! Registration fees are already paid, all you need to do is commit to raising a minimum of £200 for The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company. Sign up to run for a great cause and help support our work, creating opportunities for people with a learning disability and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. To sign up, email: alex@thetwistingducks.co.uk Deadline: Friday 29th May 2026
For Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) Awareness Day, we're looking back at our beautiful exhibition 'In Our Hands' which took place in September 2025. Over four months of weekly sessions, we supported young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities to be creative through sound, light, texture and movement. Together, we collaboratively created an exhibition of soundscapes, scrapbooks and visual artworks inspired by the artists’ own passions, interests and choices. This film captures some of the joy, creativity and connection that came from the project, including some lovely reflections from parents about what the experience meant to their children This project was kindly supported by Community Foundation North East and Ringtons
Limited spaces available to join The Twisting Ducks funded theatre groups The Twisting Ducks is offering a rare opportunity for local people with a learning disability and autistic people to join funded theatre groups taking place weekly in Newcastle upon Tyne and Wallsend, North Tyneside. We are looking to welcome new members and further diversify our theatre groups so that all voices are represented. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and in particular, would love to hear from people from the global majority, young people (18-25), women, non-binary, and trans people. Membership is free of charge. No previous performing experience is needed, just an interest in performing and a commitment to attend weekly sessions. If you're creative, love to express yourself, and want to be part of a supportive and inspiring community, we’d love to hear from you. About The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company provides accessible arts opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. The charity supports over 800 people a year to express themselves creatively, to develop skills and social connections, and to achieve aspirations as performers, musicians and DJ's. By using issue–based art forms, The Twisting Ducks help people speak up about social issues to provoke thought and stimulate change. Find out more about spaces available in groups in Wallsend and Newcastle upon Tyne below:
