IMPACT Theatre presents Red Rope, an immersive experience raising awareness of plastics in our oceans. The experience will feature dynamic projections of digital art and film. Visitors will be asked to step into an underwater paradise showing both the beauty and fragility of the natural world through the mediums of art, dance, music, and poetry created by our learning-disabled artists.

Our artists and performers have been inspired by the work of Jason deCaires Taylor and have studied his sculptures.

The idea first germinated in early 2019. Since then, there has been a lot of discussion about plastic pollution and environmental issues generally, and we are very excited to be part of this push for change.

The IMPACT artists have responded very positively to the subject and have been busy creating artwork, dance, music, and poetry to develop and create the immersive experience. Some of our artists got a chance to visit the Van Gogh Immersive Experience in Paris and in York, to fully understand what it means to be immersed in fantastic pieces of artwork and music. They also participated in workshops with Friends of the Earth.

IMPACT is a theatre company for people with learning disabilities, based at The IMPACT Community Arts Centre at Perivale.

Funded by Arts Council England, London Marathon, National Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund, Freshwater Foundation and Heathrow Communities Fund, this project has been invaluable in keeping our artists with learning disabilities engaged and optimistic through the lockdowns. Not only has it given them a focus and something to look forward to, but it has also given them a voice for change.

Red Rope was screened at the South Bank Centre August 2023.