I visited the Side by Side Theatre Company Stourbridge for actors and dancers with learning disabilities.
This was for an open morning at the old church, which has been renamed The SideSpace.
I had a tour of the building and met the actors, their parents, staff and trustees of the charity - Derek Lidington and Susan Wallin MBE - and was also treated to three mini performances including a Brexit-themed comedy piece.
It was a pleasure to visit this superb local charity and see the brilliant creative work that is happening there. I really enjoyed the performances I saw and the talent and dedication of the actors was there for all to see.
It is really heartening to visit special places like this in Stourbridge and to see the dedication of the staff who run it.”
The church, just off the ring road, had been in a state of disrepair before Side by Side bought the building with the help of a generous parent and donor.
It has since been renovated for use by the charity and theatre groups and they hold classes for disabled actors on weekday nights.
