HE AIN'T HEAVY
HE AIN'T HEAVY IS THE SHOW THAT LAUNCHED ODDLY MOVING. GRANIA PICKARD TELLS THE STORY OF GROWING UP WITH HER DISABLED AUTISTIC BROTHER "SEAN".
"Grania's work is a full-bodied, eloquent meditation on life with autism that raises awareness, builds bridges with a mainstream audience, and connects us to the beauty of accepting life as it is and loving unreservedly." LucyLoveCircus
When people ask me about my brother I usually give them the short answer; he has severe learning disabilities, epilepsy and autism. He Ain't Heavy is the long answer. As Sean cannot go on a national tour due to a love of routine and no concept of theatre, we are going to bring him into the room in other ways
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“An incredibly poignant and intimate portrayal of sibling love through puppetry and an aerial swing. You have to see Grania in action: she is a highly skilled circus performer, storyteller and connector, lighting up the entire stage.” LucyLovesCircus
2017 UK TOUR
Hull Truck Theatre
Bristol Circus City, Trinity Centre
Jacksons Lane
The Lowry, Salford Quays
2018 UK TOUR
Chichester Festival Theatre
Lincoln Drill Hall
Devonshire Park Theatre
The Exchange, Twickenham
Waterside, Sale
The Civic, Barnsley
Worthing Theatre
Rose Theatre, Kingston
Dorchester Arts
GRANIA PICKARD
Artistic Director of Oddly Moving
"Physical theatre, aerial circus, audience interaction, storytelling and puppetry reveal to the audience how Sean walks, talks and interacts with the world as well as how his unique take on life has shaped me. Throughout the piece we use different elements to introduce the audience to Sean. The stage is dominated by an oversized park swing, the main overlap between Sean’s world and mine; his from walking and pushing swings everyday for 30 years and mine from choosing aerial as a career, possibly influenced by the years I walked to the swings with him.
The show reaches out to other siblings of people with special needs and autism and gives an insight into some of my experiences for those who don’t know someone with special needs."
Performer and created by Grania Pickard
Performer: Sophie Postlethwaite
Director/dramaturg: Jimmy Whiteaker
Aerial Choreography: Charlotte Mooney (Ockham's Razor)
Lighting Design: Tom Richmond
Composer: Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres
Documentation: Paul Blakemore
Development Production: Lina B. Frank
Show & Tour Production: Turtle Key Arts
THE ELMGRANT TRUST