Working Parts

Expressions, a creative group of disabled people presented a public
 performance of songs and stories at the Maltings Day Centre in Wolverhampton on Thursday April 1st at 1 pm. Over 150 people attended, many were disability groups from around the city, involved in the Wolverhampton Disability Arts Network, like No-Nonsense Theatre, Wow Theatre and the Discovers. Watch the video about the event.

Expressions are a voluntary group of people with physical disabilities 
in Wolverhampton. They are led by a majority of disabled people. There purpose is to support people with physical disabilities to be creative.
 To realise, and develop talent. Expressions want to bring the arts and music to people by organising events. They also want to develop partnerships, to achieve their aims and benefit disabled artists and disabled people. With support from the National Lottery members of Expressions have been attending workshops by singer Sami Cornick and disabled artist Robin Surgeoner. Together they have been writing and singing songs for the performance on April 1st to mark the end of a new beginning.

Listen to the new song called Moving On

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Micheal Haynes said, “Singing helps relieve the pressure of life and 
helps you forget your aches and pains. After singing, it makes you feel 
better”. Veronica Brindley said,”It gives you confidence, before I was afraid to sing, Sami has patience and it helps you get rid of all your problems, just for a while anyway”. Margaret Harper said that disabled artist Robin Surgeoner, “Gets your mind working. I felt like I had a headache from thinking and I mean that in the nicest way. Robin presented a lot to think about, he was uplifting and inspiring. He was able to help us put words to our feelings, about the centre closing and turn them into a song, a song of our own that we could sing. It’s called Moving On.” Singer Sami Cormick said, It’s fantastic to have the opportunity of teaching people something that they really enjoy. You can see the benefits in peoples expressions, we laugh and smile.

On April Fools Day, Robin Surgeoner, a natural role model to the 
Expressions group, presented his new performance “All the things we could of been” A powerful new play with songs fitting to the lives and 
experience of disabled people. Watch the video to hear a little more.

Expressions are at the start of their journey and welcome new members to 
support the planning and delivery of creative activity in the community
 after March 2010. Expressions want to raise the profile of disabled 
people in the community and will do this by hiring spaces in the
 community for workshops, training and performances. Contact Ginette Mackriel for information Tel 
01902 553558.