Jack Barclay hosts Chickenshed
10th October 2007
Inclusive theatre company Chickenshed is celebrating a highly successful three year partnership with BSkyB which draws to a formal close this month. To mark the occasion, an evening of entertainment was hosted by Sky at Jack Barclay’s beautiful Bentley showroom in Berkeley Square.
Chickenshed held an exclusively devised performance in surroundings much more used to hosting Bentleys then 147 cast members! Guests mixed together with friends from the media and celebrity world, all hearing about innovative ways to work with Chickenshed on the next stage of its journey.
The three year partnership between Chickenshed and Sky has seen initial projections of a £1 million investment doubled to around £2 million by the end of the partnership - given in cash and in kind. The partnership has impacted an additional 3,500 children across the UK through outreach projects and a new satellite ‘Shed’ established in Fife, Scotland.
Over 10 per cent of Sky’s 15,000 staff have been involved in the partnership through fundraising, volunteering, attending workshops and shows. In addition, Chickenshed’s ground-breaking performances have been broadcast across Sky’s channels taking its unique work to an
audience of 8.5 million Sky customers.
In his speech to the audience last night James Murdoch, CEO, BSKYB said: “Chickenshed provides amazing opportunities. For some it will be about that extra piece of confidence that comes through performing. For others it is a totally life changing experience. It seems to me fundamental that the art is not compromised by opportunity – the performances are of the highest quality.”
Mary Ward co-founder of Chickenshed said: "Sky has been a magnificent partner: generous, supportive, innovative and challenging in equal measure. I would like to thank James Murdoch for the courtesy and respect with which he has treated our company. All those who believe in our work have reason to be grateful to Sky for their contribution to our future."
Please visit the Chickenshed website http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/