Connected Particles: The Documentary

This is a film about Connected Particles, a six-week project by Dark Horse Theatre that brought together young people across Kirklees to experience the joy of creative connection and movement, exploring geometric shapes, creating movement sequences, inventing new games, reflecting and laughing. Connected Particles was funded by National Lottery Awards for All England.  

Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on future projects like Connected Particles.  

AcT (Actor Training)

Do You Want to Act?

Join our AcT student actors in training to start your journey towards becoming a professional actor.

Our foundation actor training course follows Dark Horse’s bespoke method ‘The Silent Approach’ and covers a wide selection of units including: Movement, Acting Technique, Ensemble, Voice and Fitness. All units are designed to work towards preparing students for a career in the industry.

Dark Horse trains learning disabled actors at the highest, vocational level.

The silent approach, a ground-breaking rehearsal room method, is used across the company.

The training is unique and revolutionary and gives Dark Horse actors the tools they need to work in rehearsal rooms and TV and sound studios on equal terms with non-learning disabled actors.

You will attend Dark Horse 2 days a week from 9:45 – 3:00pm (during term time) and work towards showings each term to showcase your development in training.

Contact us at tilda@darkhorsetheatre.co.uk and you could be training with one of England’s leading learning disabled theatre companies sooner than you think.

Dark Horse Workshops

Dark Horse offers bespoke workshops and sample workshops in schools, colleges and community settings; for groups who want to familiarise themselves with what we do or such who want to experience acting in depth. We work with various practitioners in the industry and can offer workshops and courses in acting, movement, storytelling, digital technologies on stage and more.

Dark Horse also delivers bespoke masterclasses in the Silent Approach and inclusive practices led by our company actors and creative director. The masterclasses are suitable for any organisations in the theatre and creative industry as well as organisations wanting to advance their accessible and non-discriminatory practices.

Dark Horse actors and students currently work with South Yorkshire Police and Huddersfield University’s Learning Disability Nursing course improving communication skills when interviewing and working with vulnerable witnesses, victims and patients. Also, developing a better and deeper understanding of how to engage people with learning disabilities, recognise vulnerabilities, and reverse harmful stereotypes.

STIR

Our professional performance, STIR, combines live theatre and film and was devised, written and rehearsed with young people in mind as the target audience.

“Really important themes. Peer pressure, making friends, looking after each other, dealing with aggression. A Story delivered so simply and powerfully.” – Alistair Macdonald, Castle Hill School

“Very realistic and thought provoking with a variety of messages about street crime amongst young people. All people have the same experiences and emotions.” – Rosalind Watt, Mrs Sunderland Festival

We are taking bookings from schools and other community settings to bring STIR to you. This is a unique opportunity for students to see dynamic storytelling and professional quality theatre in the comfort of their community.

Additionally, we can offer a package including the performance and an hour-long creative workshop for up to 20 participants. This package introduces students to the devising tools used by Dark Horse and the creative process we used to make STIR. The workshop is designed to fit with the needs, abilities, and experiences of the group and will boost confidence, encourage teamwork and improve focus and concentration.

For more information, costs & booking, email ekaterina@darkhorsetheatre.co.uk or call 01484 484441 to speak to a member of the Dark Horse team.